88% of South African Police HIV-Positive

FEBRUARY 19, 2016 By TNO STAFF— IN AFRICA

Around 88 percent of all the active staff in the South African Police Services (SAPS) are HIV-positive, according to that country’s Deputy Police Minister Maggie Sotyu.

Speaking at a seminar which is being hosted by the country’s parliamentary Police Portfolio Committee, and which is focused on the high number of police killings in the country, she said the AIDS-ridden force include both “police officers and non-career personnel.”

“The 88 percent is made up of active personnel, clerks, public services act members, and sweepers,” she said.

AIDS is not the only problem plaguing the South African Police Services. According to a report issued last year, of the 158,548 operational members, some 40,000 have failed or do not have firearm competency certificates......