Union wants police corruption probe
July 16 2013 at 05:02pm
By SAPA
By SAPA
INL SA
Minister of Public
Service and Administration Lindiwe Sisulu. Picture: Phill Magakoe
Johannesburg - Public Service and
Administration Minister Lindiwe Sisulu must investigate corruption allegations
involving high-level police officers, trade union Solidarity said on Tuesday.
“We call on minister Sisulu to make
this matter the first assignment for her department's new anti-corruption
bureau,” spokesman Johan Kruger said in a statement.
“Such a step would confirm that
Minister Sisulu is indeed serious about clamping down on corruption.”
Solidarity said it had written to
Sisulu asking her to probe the matter.
This was after weekend reports that
Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa, former national police commissioner Bheki Cele,
and senior generals had known about the existence of evidence showing rampant
fraud, corruption, and looting of the police's crime intelligence secret fund
for years. However, nothing reportedly had been done.
City Press reported on Sunday that the
claim was made in a dossier before the Labour Court as part of a former police
auditor's battle with the SA Police Service.
The newspaper said it was in possession
of secret reports and official documents in which Colonel Johan Roos, the head
of inspection and evaluation of the crime intelligence unit, asked the court to
force police to promote him to brigadier and reinstate him as an auditor.
The documents reportedly detailed how
Roos had since 2004 reported the fund's alleged looting to his superiors in an
effort to stop it.
Mthethwa's spokesman, Zweli Mnisi,
could not be reached for comment on Tuesday but told City Press that the
minister dismissed any allegations of a cover-up and that the matter was before
the court and was therefore sub judice.
Solidarity said it was representing
Roos in a discrimination case in the Labour Court in Johannesburg.
“The information that came to light
over the weekend is a central part of the case,” Kruger said.
“Although Solidarity can assist Roos
only in so far as the labour dispute is concerned, no stone should be left
unturned to thoroughly investigate the allegations of corruption that has gone
unpunished.”
He said the labour court case was at an
advanced stage and a trial date was expected soon. - Sapa
