Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has expressed concern about SAPS members committing heinous crimes.
A few years ago, it was revealed that more than 1500 police officers had criminal records ranging from rape to murder and more dreadful transgressions.
Currently, police watchdog, the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID), is investigating several police officers who were caught on the wrong side of the law.
“We are aware of some criminals amongst ourselves in the SAPS. We arrested seven police officers who are criminals. They have already been charged with crime. We are going to charge them internally and they will undergo that process. I don’t want to say what the outcome will be, but the outcome is written on the wall,” said Mchunu.
He also added that some police officers in eThekwini worked the night shift and went out in the morning to perpetrate crimes while still in their uniforms.
When they were cornered and shot, one died at the scene, while the other was taken to hospital.
In Cato Manor, police Constable Minenhle Makhaye is expected back in the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court on October 14 for bail consideration.
He was arrested in Cato Manor in the early hours of October 4, after he was allegedly found in possession of a bank card belonging to Zarah Ramsamy’s mother, Shaida.
The 11-year-old Grade 5 pupil was killed on September 11, 2024, after she was run over by fleeing hijackers in the parking lot of a fast-food outlet.
He was also found in possession of 105 other bank cards.
He appeared in court on Monday facing charges of possession of suspected stolen property, theft, fraud, and charges relating to tampering with a crime scene.
KZN provincial spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda has said that Makhaye was not linked to the hijacking but had allegedly taken the bank card from the hijacked vehicle.
“When the hijacked vehicle was recovered in the Cato Manor area, the constable was called upon to drive the vehicle to Malvern. It was during that time that the constable got hold of the bank card and stole it.”
Meanwhile, seven police officers from Diepkloof SAPS were each granted bail of R3 000, after they appeared in the Protea Magistrate’s Court on charges of murder, torture, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and housebreaking and theft.
Last week, Sergeant Phillip Machaba, 41, Constable Josephine Baloyi, 31, Constable Thobani Mkhwanazi, 30, Constable Thulani Hlatshwayo, 36, Constable Tshepo Chokoe, 36, Constable Andile Keto, 33, and Constable Tulalethu Madwantsi, 36, were arrested by IPID for an incident that happened on January 20, 2023.
IPID spokesperson Phaladi Shuping said on the day of the incident, the police allegedly received information of a person dealing in drugs at a certain house in Marthinus Smuts Drive, Diepkloof, and they went to the house.
Shuping said the officers found Nkosinathi Dlamini and Simphiwe Dlamini at the gate, and allegedly assaulted them. Six police officers then proceeded into the house while one officer stood guard at the gate.
He said the officers found Sfiso Dlamini, 41, in the house and allegedly assaulted him severely. He later succumbed to his injuries. The police officers allegedly stole a sum of R2 000 found in the house.
The case was postponed to November 1 for the officers to be provided with the indictment.
The Mercury