Police
dept contingent liabilties top R21bn
INDEPENDENT
NEWSPAPER
SPolice Minister Nkosinathi
Nhleko
Parliament - The
department of police's contingent liabilities rose to over R21 billion in the
past financial year, according to its annual report tabled in Parliament this
week.
This marks an
increase from R19 billion in the previous financial year.
The bulk of
contingency liabilities is expected to arise from successful lawsuits against
the police, forcing payouts of a total R20 billion.
However it also includes, for the second year running,
potential liabilities of R611 million as a result of the lease contract
irregularly entered into for a new police headquarters in Pretoria.
The department of public works has applied for a
declaratory order on the legality of the lease.
The Democratic Alliance said it would press Police
Minister Nathi Nhleko “that a cap be put on a contingent liability fund that
continues to rise unabated”.
The DA's spokeswoman on police, Diane Kohler
Barnard, said the amount reflected in the annual report made up almost a third
of the police's entire budget.
She said liabilities expected to arise from claims
by private parties had risen by a “massive R2.7 billion” and meant that the
department was making provision for the possibility that a third of its
national budget might have to be paid out to cover for legal claims against the
SAPS.
Sapa
