In a parliamentary sitting John Moodey, DA Gauteng Provincial Leader, recently raised the issue regarding the number of claims against the SAPS with Community Safety MEC Faith Mazibuko.
According to Moodey the DA is concerned about the significant increase in the number of claims made against Gauteng police in the past two years. The number of claims more than doubled over the period.
In response to Moodey’s question in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, the SAPS indicated that the courts have granted R98 252 380,77 in 2011 and 2012.
The breakdown by year is as follows:
• 2011: 652 claims that cost the SAPS R38 939 226,08
• 2012: 1 427 claims amounting to R59 313 154,69
This amounts to a total of 2 079 claims, resulting in a cost of R98 252 380,77.
“The rise in the number of claims reinforces perceptions and survey findings about public’s trust in police and concerns about unlawful police action,” says Moodey.
The DA will submit follow-up questions to Mazibuko to determine the reasons for the significant increase in claims and requests a detailed breakdown of the type of claims made against Gauteng police.
Moodey added that “it is imperative that police, as custodians of the law and public order, act within the confines of the law at all times”.
