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
