Crimes of the South African Police Service

Drugs, cash stolen from airport cop shop

December 14 2012 at 12:58pm
By LEBOGANG SEALE

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Independent NewspapAirplanes are seen at OR Tambo International Airport. File photo: Cara Viereckl

Johannesburg -

Drugs and cash estimated at more than R20 million confiscated from criminals have been stolen at OR Tambo International Airport’s police offices in yet another “burglary” that has left the police baffled.

In the latest incident, on Monday night, criminals allegedly broke the wall of an office at the airport’s SAPS administrative block to access the main safe, known as Exhibit 13 within police circles. They then cleared it of drugs and cash.

The drugs are kept at the SAPS’s offices before they are taken for forensic tests.

However, sources at the airport’s police station have told The Star that the crime was an inside job. Fingers have been wagged at the SAPS top management and a warrant officer guarding the safe. The identities of the officers implicated are known to The Star.

Station commander Brigadier Modise Mohale refused to comment.

Police spokesman Dennis Adriao confirmed there had been a break-in at the SAPS’s administrative office inside the airport’s premises. He did not give further details.

It was the second time in less than five years that drugs and cash were stolen at the airport’s SAPS offices. In July 2008, cash and drugs worth an estimated R15m disappeared from the airport. The incident was also suspected to be an inside job that also alleged involvement of the same police officer responsible for guarding the safe.

During the 2008 incident, he was allegedly hijacked while on his way home and robbed of the keys to the safe.

The incident happened while the trial of 15 people who allegedly stole about R65m from a plane parked at the airport was still continuing. This week’s incident has heightened calls for the police authorities to intervene.

“The thing about breaking the wall was just a trick to cover up for their theft,” said the source. “The organised crime unit at the airport must know the exact amount that disappeared. There is nothing like an undisclosed amount of money because all the confiscated cash is recorded in the ‘face-value book’.”

Another source alleged that the break-in was not captured on the airport’s CCTV cameras. “There are (CCTV) cameras all around the airport with a bird’s-eye view of the entire airport precinct and access routes. Someone might have tampered with the CCTV cameras and Acsa (Airports Company South Africa) must know,” he said.

Acsa spokeswoman Unathi Batyashe-Fillis said: “We unfortunately cannot speculate on whether the CCTV cameras in question were working or not. This matter is being investigated by the SAPS.”

lebogang.seale@inl.co.za

The Star

Crimes of the South African Police Service

Cop now faces double murder rap

12 Apr 2012 | Frank Maponya

THE Limpopo police constable accused of shooting dead his sister and injuring his brother is now facing another charge of murder.

This follows the death of his brother on Sunday night.

Constable Bernard Tema, who is attached to the Public Order Police in Polokwane, is also facing suspension from work pending an internal disciplinary hearing.

Tema, 33, appeared in the Mahwelereng Magistrate's Court on Tuesday in connection with the killing of his 39-year-old sister, identified as Peggy Tema, following a spat.

He also allegedly shot and fatally injured his brother, identified as Lawrence, 23, at about 8pm on Friday.

It is not yet known what the siblings were arguing about.

The sister was shot twice, while the brother was shot five times.

He was rushed to Mokopane Hospital where his condition was earlier described as "stable and satisfactory".

Police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Mohale Ramatseba said the injured brother had since died, presumably from the injuries he sustained in theshooting.

"We have now charged the officer with double murder following the death of the brother," said Ramatsebayesterday.

He said that during his appearance in Mahwelereng, Tema's case was postponed to next Wednesday in the regional court for a bail application.

Tema was not asked to plead and police investigations were continuing.

"We will serve the suspect with a notice of suspension soon, pending internal disciplinary processes," Ramatseba said.

According to Ramatseba, Tema's official firearm was used in the shooting and had been confiscated.

http://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/2012/04/12/cop-now-faces-double-murder-rap

Crimes of the South African Police Service

Deaths in SA prisons often due to torture by officials:

Nov 29 2010 – CAPE TOWN PARLIAMENT. The portfolio committees of correctional services and public works held a joint hearing about the ‘fruitless, wasteful expenditure on the building of new facilities” and “the torture of prison inmates at the hands of officials”.

In one such unnatural death, a number of officials were charged with culpable homicide when an inmate was killed during a mass assault on prisoners by officials, yet only one was found guilty. He was dismissed. Charges against the others were withdrawn. The MPs wanted to know why they had not been charged with murder, and were told that the police would be investigating the criminal charge against the dismissed official.

They also queried the inhumane treatment of inmates who ended up killing themselves. In one case, an inmate was locked in a cell that had no lights and, in another, an inmate who said he had been raped was found hanged in the shower area of the cell. There had been “a delay in transferring him to a rape centre, allegedly because there was no transport available”. The nurses who failed to examine the man were acquitted in a disciplinary hearing, and the officials who failed to arrange his transport to a rape centre were given a final warning. The MPs were unhappy with the lack of action against errant prison officials.

A number of extremely worrying trends have been found during an investigation into 55 unnatural deaths in prisons in 2009. The Civil Society Prison Reform Initiative said one of the "top concerns" was that despite guilty findings at discliplinary hearings,  not one correctional services official had been prosecuted in a criminal court in any of the unnatural death cases.

This was despite disciplinary internal enquiries finding them guilty of offences such as gross negligence and excessive use of force. "Of topmost concern is that in not one of the 55 cases has a single Department of Correctional Services (DCS) official been prosecuted yet," the Initiative said.

·       "It is rare that officials are dismissed following the death of a prisoner."

The CSPRI - a project of the Community Law Centre at the University of the Western Cape - said it had analysed a report by the Judicial Inspectorate which provided details of 55 "unnatural deaths" in 2009. "The CSPRI has analysed the data, discovering a number of extremely worrying trends."

Deceased often brutally assaulted by officials:

It said in many of the cases, the deceased had been brutally assaulted by officials with batons, electric shields and booted feet. The official had then failed to provide "adequate and timeous" medical attention.

Nothing more than murder

In one case, involving the death of a 59-year old prisoner at Ebongweni Maximum Security Prison in Kokstad, an independent pathologist had found "death consistent with smothering" or an obstruction of mouth and nose.

·       "The incident happened on August 9 2009 and according to the inspectorate, no action has been taken by the DCS nor has the investigation by the police resulted in anything," the CSPRI said.

The prisoner, known only by his initials 'RT'", must have died a horrible death - first severely beaten and then suffocated. This is nothing more than murder and all officials implicated should be prosecuted and punished accordingly."

55% were suicides…

Other trends apparent from the 2009 Judicial Report indicated that 55% of the deaths were suicides. In a significant proportion of these, the prisoner was a known as a suicide risk. Despite this, "The DCS failed to take effective measures to prevent the suicide," the CSPRI said.

·       "In nearly 65% of the 55 cases, the DCS had not taken any action against its officials although there is evidence indicating liability."

Investigations by the police in the deaths of prisoners seldom progressed to a stage where a docket was handed to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).

"The CSPRI is of the view that when a person dies in state custody, the state is liable until the matter has been properly investigated by independent and competent authorities and the findings indicate the contrary.

"In meeting its obligations under the UN Convention against Torture, South Africa is obligated to investigate promptly wherever there are reasonable grounds to believe that an act of torture or ill treatment has been committed in any territory under its jurisdiction."

Poor, delayed and uncompleted investigations fostered a culture of impunity within the DCS, the CSPRI said. http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Worrying-trends-in-prison-deaths-20101118

http://afrikaner-genocide-achives.blogspot.com/2010/11/afrikaners-tortured-killed-by-saps.html

Crimes of the South African Police Service

SAPS TORTURED AFRIKANER FARM FAMILY MALHERBE with CATTLE-PRODS, PLASTIC-BAG CHOKING TORTURE IN POTGIETERSRUST, JAN 28 2010 –

Heavily armed men in police uniforms who showed up in police vehicles tortured an Afrikaner farm family in Mokopane/Potgietersrust on January 28 2010 - tied them up, covered their heads in plastic bags and shocked them with cattle-prods. Injured were Okkie Malherbe (63) wife Emmerentia (53), of the Olem farm on Doelen, and watched by their little granddaughter Kaycee, 5. Malherbe's son WD, 34 said the attack took about two hours. The family had opened the door to their torturers because “they thought they were police officers”. Investigations found later that the attack-gang had indeed been members of the SAPS after investigators checked the police-vehicles’ number plates. [Source: Polisielede roof, skok boer en sy gesin, Beeld, 2010-01-28. Beeld newspaper claimed they were ‘bogus cops’.

 http://www.scribd.com/doc/26063669/

Crimes of the South African Police Service

ALZHEIMER SUFFERER JAMES BROWN BEATEN TO DEATH IN KRIEL SAPS CELL –

NOBODY EVER CHARGED:

TWO PICTURES ABOVE: June 9 2009 – deniseryan@mweb.co.za sent around an internet petition, demanding an investigation into the deeply mysterious death of Kriel old-age pensioner James Brown in a cell of the local police station . The TV programme Third Degree, broadcast by ETV in South Africa, showed these pictures of the late Mr James Brown, a 09-year-old Afrikaner and also an Alzheimer’s sufferer,  who was arrested at the Shoprite supermarket in Kriel – for ‘taking a chocolate bar without paying for it’. Ryan writes: “The old man was assaulted,  beaten and sprayed with pepper spray by the police officers who arrested him without any probable course for their behavior towards him – the old man did not resist arrest and the police officers were never in any danger from him at any stage. This old man did not know he was doing anything wrong because he was an Alzheimer’s sufferer – his doctor said his physical health was good, but he did suffer from Alzheimer.  “After his arrest, his civil rights were also violated  because he had nobody to assist him and his right to a phone call was not presented to him otherwise he could have been assisted by a family member or attorney.  “He died within  four hours of custody at the Kriel police station.

 http://censorbugbear-reports.blogspot.com/2009/06/why-did-this-alzheimer-sufferer-die-in.html

Crimes of the South African Police Service

Afrikaners tortured, killed by SAPS 

   Afrikaans farmer Willie Nel of Hammanskraal awarded R500,000 damages, wife Ester Nel R140,000. Adv Marius Bouwer, then-operational commander of the SAPS anti-corruption unit, awarded R205,000 in damages by Pretoria High Court  – all  for false arrests and vicious beatings in SAPS custody, Nov 23 2010:

http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/article777533.ece/Police-to-pay-for-torturehttp://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/2010/09/27/claims-of-torture-attacks-by-cops

Crimes of the South African Police Service

Afrikaners tortured, killed by SAPS

20101129

Afrikaner security-technician Riaan Petrus Velloen, 37, killed by SAPS in custody,  Florida police cells, Roodepoort S.Africa – nobody charged – police offers no ‘regrets’ nor ‘condolances’ to the grieving family…

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2010-11-29 Amanda Roestoff of Beeld newspaper reports that 37-year-old Afrikaner security-camera technician Riaan Petrus Velloen was beaten up so brutally by the Florida police in Roodepoort that the healthy man died in the police cells within just hours. There were no charges against Velloen when he died in police custody, said his mother-in-law Mrs Ria Hogan, 50, grand-mother of his son Kevin Hogan, 15.

“Police claim he was drunk but he was not a drinker. We don’t know why he was arrested and there have been no formal charges lodged through the charge office,’ she said. She said her daughter received a phone call from Riaan’s sister – who informed him that he was beaten to death in the police cells. SAPS spokesman Lt.col. Lungelo Dlamini indeed confirmed that Velloendied while in police-custody and that a ‘murder-dossier was opened to investigate ‘the incident’. Hogan said the family have no idea where he was arrested, or why.

“It’s so heart-sore, because he was a kind, loving man who always tried to make you happy even if he had to put his own needs last. The police should be there to protect people – one cannot trust them any longer.’

His son Kevin was devastated about his father’s death. “He always listened to everything I ever told him and I will miss all the special things we did together. Velloen’s remains have not yet been released for burial because the investigation has not been completed. The SAPS ‘would not say whether any of the arresting officers would be criminally charged or prosecuted in an internal hearing”.

They also did not offer their condolances nor regrets to the family. http://www.beeld.com/Suid-Afrika/Nuus/Man-dood-in-selle-na-polisie-glo-aanrand-20101128

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566 Deaths in Police Custody in first 11 months of 2010:

566 people have died in SAPS custody from Jan to Nov 28 2010.

Throughout the entire apartheid-era no more than 75 people died in police-custody throughout the period between 1963 and 1994.

Official reports – deaths in police custody during apartheid:

·       http://www.csvr.org.za/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=671&Itemid=200

·       http://www.sahistory.org.za/pages/library-resources/online%20books/crime-humanity/detention%20weapon.htm

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http://afrikaner-genocide-achives.blogspot.com/2010/11/afrikaners-tortured-killed-by-saps.html

Crimes of the South African Police Service

Bungle thwarts R740 000 Crime Stop promo

January 30 2012 at 04:17pm

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INLSA

NO ZERO, NO HERO: Traffic passes the Crime Stop billboard in Grayston Drive, Sandton, this morning. Pictures: Mujahid Safodien

SHAIN GERMANER

It IS a R740 000 bungle that may cost police valuable information and even prevent the arrest of numerous criminals. The error? One missing zero.

Fifty-eight billboards have been erected across the country to advertise the SAPS’s official tip-off service, Crime Stop. But it was only over the weekend that the public noticed an error that may lead to a few frustrated stool pigeons.

The Crime Stop number, 08600 10111, is missing a zero on these 58 billboards, and so anyone with valuable information regarding criminal activity who dials 0860 10111 will be greeted with a busy tone.

National police spokesman Brigadier Lindela Mashigo said police had already acknowledged the mistake and were in talks to rectify it. The billboard campaign may have set police back almost three quarters of a million rand, but Mashigo said that other broadcast and print advertisements would make sure the public knew the correct number for the hotline.

“We may have lost out on a lot of valuable information and even arrests, but we will be looking into finding a way to solve the issue.” But only a full investigation would reveal if the SAPS, their marketing company or the printers were responsible for the typo, he said. “We will readily admit it if we are in the wrong here, but we still need to confirm exactly where the problem started,” he said.

http://www.iol.co.za/the-star/bungle-thwarts-r740-000-crime-stop-promo-1.1223429

Crimes of the South African Police Service

SAHRC blasts police over Tatane

by admin on Oct 31, 2012

People protest outside the court where six police officers appears for the killing of Andries Tatane.

(Andre Grobler, Sapa)

http://www.allzanews.com/2012/10/31/sahrc-blasts-police-over-tatane/

Crimes of the South African Police Service

Police vehicle in accident near University in Durban

Posted by jonckie in September 21st 2009

This evening at about 20h30 Netcare 911 paramedics raced to the scene of a head on collision involving an Umbilo Police Vehicle and a Toyota Quantum in Francois Road near the university. On arrival paramedics found a critically injured policeman on the pavement with severe head injuries. He was quickly stabilised on scene before being rushed through to Netcare St Augustine’s Hospital with his crew for further care. There were two people who were injured in the Quantum and they were transported to a local hospital for treatment. It is unclear what caused the collision between the two vehicles. The SAPS is investigating this accident.
Chris Botha

http://roadsafety.co.za/2009-09/police-vehicle-in-accident-near-university-in-durban/

Crimes of the South African Police Service

SA Police refuse to appoint white forensic experts.

Friday, April 3, 2009

It’s common knowledge that the South African Police Service is experiencing a major shortage of skilled forensic scientists. Despite the fact that numerous cases in court are lost due to a lack of forensic expertise, the SA Police still continue to undermine their own proficiency by leaving senior posts vacant, simply because a racist-driven government policy excludes whites. I have personally experienced the frustrations of applying for posts in this department without any success. In fact, they don’t even bother replying to the many applications I’ve sent over the years. I’ve now given up and will eagerly await the outcome of an important case coming up in the labour court soon.

This story was front page news in yesterdays “Beeld” newspaper (Pretoria Edition):

Johannesburg - The most important test case yet for affirmative action will soon start in the labour court.

According to court documents, the government's emphasis on racially representative employees has resulted in the South African Police Services (SAPS) opting to leave positions for senior forensic scientists vacant rather than appointing white scientists.

The case has been dragging on since November 2004 when the applications for promotion of four scientists - Majors Lionel de de Jager, Corlett van Ham, Hannes Geustyn and H Ueckermann - were turned down because they were white.

Preparations for the complicated case have now been completed and they are only waiting for a court date. The trial will last about five days.

Two of the scientists, Ueckermann and Van Ham, are women, and according to the Employment Equity Act, also entitled to preferential treatment.

Van Ham was also declared partially disabled due to asthma, which made her even more entitled to preferential treatment. She contracted asthma due to the exposure of foreign substances in her workplace.

Ueckermann, a forensic analyst with ten years' experience and an MSc degree, recently emigrated and withdrew from the case.

De Jager had an MSc degree and twelve years' experience in physical and chemical analysis. Van Ham has a BSc Honours degree with seven years' experience as an analyst in forensic laboratories. Geustyn has a BTech degree.

Four senior positions for forensic analysts were advertised in September 2004 for the SAPS' forensic laboratories, claim court documents.

All four applied. The only other applicants were an inspector Mowela and an inspector Mabala.

On November 9 2004, all four white applicants were informed that their applications were not successful as no white candidates were considered. Mowela and Mabala were promoted, but to positions for which they had not applied.

The skills level required for the positions is so rare that it would probably never be possible to fill them following demographic representation, said Solidarity deputy general secretary Dirk Hermann on Wednesday. He is involved in the case.

- Beeld

http://tia-mysoa.blogspot.com/2009/04/sa-police-refuse-to-appoint-white.html

Crimes of the South African Police Service

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Chaos in the South African Police Service

Lost and stolen police case dockets – Up by 57%

Backlogs at police forensic science laboratories – Up by 105%

"We are involved in a War..... These are the days of our lives. In the crossfire between criminals and police, innocent people die, police also die. We live in South Africa and that's the point." Deputy Minister of Police Fikile Mbabula - Source

The situation is not funny anymore, but it always amazes me how South Africans can quickly implement survival tactics when the need arises. If you enjoy a serious chuckle, and also want some practical advice on how to survive in this country, then I highly recommend the article, -- ‘How to avoid being shot by the police’.

And now for the serious facts...

Statement by Dianne Kohler Barnard, Democratic Alliance Shadow Minister of Police

Article by: Creamer Media Reporter

A series of replies to Democratic Alliance (DA) parliamentary questions released today reveal that lost and stolen police case dockets are up 57%, sample backlogs at forensic science laboratories are up 105%, compliance with recommendations from the police watchdog are down from 42% to 10%, and only 5% of Hawks applicants have been vetted, meaning that at this rate it will take more than seven years for all applicants to be vetted. In other words, while the minister and his deputy have been busying themselves with turf wars, and while the police commissioner has been preoccupied with rabble-rousing speeches, the problems facing the Police Service have been allowed to spiral out of control.

Hawks in crisis

A parliamentary reply revealed that only 5% of Hawks employees have been vetted. 2187 employees submitted applications, but only 118 so far have received clearance. At this rate of 24 per month, it will take 7 years to vet all the applicants. Whilst South Africa's crime rate is worsening, we cannot allow administrative inefficiencies to further compromise our safety. On 1 July 2009, a total of 639 cases were transferred from the DSO to the DPCI, the date on which the Scorpions ceased to exist. It is reasonable to believe that very little progress has been made on any of these cases, if the staff compliment is this low. Five months since the vetting started, the Department still feels that "there is no delay in concluding the process" and no action has been taken against those responsible for the vetting processes.

Compliance with the police watchdog

A reply to a parliamentary question has also revealed that only 10% of Independent Complaints Directorate (ICD) recommendations were adhered to by the Police. The police watchdog made 1,212 recommendations to the SAPS last year and there was no response to 90% of these recommendations. Last year, the compliance rate stood at 58.1%, which means that we have witnessed a marked worsening of an already bad situation. The DA submitted a Private Member's Legislative Proposal in June of this year, which sought to empower this body and give it ‘teeth', but so far all we have seen from the Ministry of Police is stalling efforts. Now we can see quite clearly that this administration has very little interest in ensuring proper police oversight.

Forensic science laboratory backlogs

A parliamentary reply reveals that the backlog at forensic science laboratories has increased from 11,907 samples in September 2008 to 24,375 samples by August 2009. This constitutes a 105% increase, year-on-year. Chemistry sample backlogs are up 80.4%, the backlog in scientific analysis has increased by 526%, and whereas no ballistics backlog was recorded at this time last year, we now have a backlog of 2,846 ballistics samples. It now takes, on average, more than five months for a biology sample to be processed by our Forensic Science Laboratories. In the space of a year, we have seen a spiraling of sample backlogs, but absolutely no attention has been paid to the crisis within our FSLs: the shocking vacancy rates, terrible staff retention policies, and shortfall of forensic science laboratories. Forensic experts have raised numerous concerns over these issues over the past year, but again the police brass has been preoccupied with other more glamorous issues.

Case dockets missing

A parliamentary reply reveals that a total of 671 dockets were lost or stolen in 2008/09 - up 57% from the 427 that were lost or stolen last year. This in turn represents a 75% increase since 2005/06, when 382 dockets were lost or stolen. Equally disturbing is the fact that in only 5 of the 671 cases, officers were dismissed for the loss of dockets, while only one fifth of incidents resulted in any disciplinary action at all. Missing dockets represent a severe impediment to any police investigation, and the failure to take action against offending officers means that there is no effective deterrent in place, and, thus, that the situation is unlikely to improve in future. It is also simply unconscionable in this day and age that we have handwritten dockets going missing. We have long called for automatic information backups to be made mandatory, and for a real-time crime information system, which would incorporate secure networked access to police case dockets, but the Ministry of Police have yet to give this proposal the attention it deserves. In sum, these figures show that the South African Police Service faces an array of severe challenges that simply are not being addressed.

Time and again safety experts, concerned citizens' groups and the official opposition have raised concerns over the lack of action from the Department of Police in tackling basic problems in the SAPS. For instance, our SAPS in Crisis document, released earlier this year, identified many of the problems that we are talking about today, and set out detailed steps that need to be taken by the Department of Police to address them. They never did so, and now the situation is even worse.

What is quite clear is that the ANC government is totally unconcerned about sorting out the most fundamental problems in our SAPS. Copies of each of the replies referred to in this statement are available upon request from rossv@da.org.za.

http://tia-mysoa.blogspot.com/2009/11/chaos-in-south-african-police-service.html