Published: 22 April 2013 Last updated at 04:50
SA police
face R14 billion in civil lawsuits, not R7 billion as reported
South Africa’s police minister told parliament last
week that civil damages claims totalling R7.1 billion were laid against the
South African Police Service in the 2011 to 2012 financial year. In fact the
closing balance of civil claims in March 2012 was more than twice that.
Researched by Julian Rademeyer
South Africa’s police minister, Nathi Mthethwa, told parliament last week that civil damages claims
totalling R7.1 billion (about US$770 million) had been laid against the South
African Police Service (SAPS) in the 2011 to 2012 financial year.
The claims covered accidents, cases of assault,
shootings and damage to property involving police officers.
Mthethwa was responding to questions posed by the
opposition Democratic Alliance about the number of claims instituted in each
financial year since 2007, the total amounts claimed, how the claims were
finalised and what amounts were paid out.
In his reply, Mthethwa said 10,552 claims
were brought against police in 2011/2012 seeking payouts amounting to R7.174
billion. Of these, 562 claims were settled in court and R37.3 million were paid
out. A further 553 claims were settled out of court with payments of R55.7
million. More than 8000 claims had not been dealt with by the end of the
financial year.
The story was prominently covered in a number of
newspapers. “DA: Police brutality is robbing
nation of R7bn,” read a
headline in The Times. “7bn in civil claims against cops,” read The Herald.
Read more……
