- Rising Corruption Cases in SAPS Eastern Cape: The number of police officers charged with corruption in the Eastern Cape has significantly increased, with 21 cases in the last financial year alone, marking a fivefold rise over three years.
- Lack of Convictions and Sanctions: Despite 54 officers being charged since 2021, there have been no convictions, and officers found guilty often return to duty after mild disciplinary actions like suspension without pay.
- Impact on Public Trust and Safety: The Democratic Alliance warns that unchecked corruption within SAPS undermines community safety and erodes public trust in law enforcement.
Corruption within the South African Police Service (SAPS) in the Eastern Cape is on the rise, with new figures confirming a disturbing rise in cases. In the last financial year alone, 21 SAPS members were charged with corruption, five times more than just three years ago.
According to a response to a parliamentary question, a total of 54 police officers in the province have been charged with corruption since 2021. Yet not a single conviction has been recorded. Even more troubling, six officers found guilty in internal disciplinary processes including two captains and a warrant officer were allowed to return to duty. In most cases, the harshest penalty was suspension without pay.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) says this trend poses a direct threat to public trust and safety. “Communities cannot feel safe when those meant to protect them operate without accountability,” the party said.
The DA is demanding a full, independent investigation into systemic corruption within SAPS, along with the immediate suspension of any officer facing criminal charges. A formal complaint will be lodged with IPID, and the party will also request that the Provincial Commissioner appear before the Legislature.
While SAPS refers to tools like the Anti-Corruption Hotline and the MySAPS app, the DA says there’s no evidence these platforms lead to real consequences.
