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The Staggering Level of EC Civil Claims Against SAPS

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Dear MyPE

The local police station in every community is the first line of defence against criminals. However, over the past seven years, a staggering R225.6-million was paid out for civil claims against the South African Police Service (SAPS) in the Eastern Cape. Over the past two years, the numbers remained high, with 1 150 claims costing the province R73.2-million. Communities want to be able to trust the police unconditionally and feel safe and protected in an orderly environment. What a waste of money. Hundreds of vehicles could have been bought with this amount. Communities want to see police vehicles on the beat rather than hearing about SAPS being beaten in court settlements.

The bad apples who are guilty of brutality and lack of discipline cannot be allowed to tarnish the good work being done by our policemen- and women, often under very trying circumstances. Bad behaviour casts doubt in people’s minds.

The DA believes that to deliver an effective crime fighting and community protection service, the conduct and integrity of police service members must be above reproach. Police officers should not flout the law, they should uphold it.

In addition to the claims and payments already made from 2016 to 2018, there were 6 509 pending claims, as at the end of April this year. This could run into hundreds of millions. The majority of the claims related to unlawful arrest and detention, according to a reply to a legislature question I asked Safety and Liaison MEC Weziwe Tikana.

Reply to IQP 14, q 154

The biggest claims already paid out over the 2016-2018 period included:
781 claims, amounting to R42.7-million for unlawful arrest and detention;
44 claims, amounting to R14.4-million for shootings;
57 claims, amounting to R6.35-million for unlawful police action;
136 claims, amounting to R4.24-million for collusion; and
44 claims, amounting to R3-million for assault;

Based on previous replies from the MEC, over a period of seven years, a total of R225 644 503.11 was paid out for 4 305 claims:

In 2011/12 the amount paid out was R15 387 026.30 for 506 claims;
In 2012/13 the amount paid out was R23 941 348.18 for 538 claims;
In 2013/14 the amount paid out was R33 698 608 for 663 claims;
In 2014/15 the amount paid out was R28 313 470.31 for 667 claims;
In 2015/16 the amount paid out being R51 035 345.18 for 781 claims;
In 2016/17 the amount paid out being R34 206 440.90 for 677 claims; and
In 2017/18 the amount paid out being R39 062 264.24 for 473 claims.

Previous replies

Active steps must be taken to rid the system of corrupt members, to end the scourge of police brutality and to ensure that police criminality is appropriately dealt with. This requires the commitment of senior managers in the police service and the necessary political will to enforce the existing regulations.

Proper oversight can act as a catalyst for improved police performance. In March 2013, the Western Cape legislature passed the Western Cape Community Safety Act to improve provincial oversight over the police service. The Act gives effect to Section 206 of the constitution that requires provinces to identify their own policing needs and priorities, to “oversee the effectiveness and efficiency of the police service” and to “promote good relations between the police and the community”.

When we become the governing party in the Eastern Cape we will introduce legislation to improve provincial oversight over the police.

Regards

Bobby Stevenson, MPL

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Port Elizabethan

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