File
The police service in the Eastern Cape is facing civil claims amounting to a staggering R7.9 billion for 6 528 cases of alleged wrongdoing.
This is according to the MEC of Community Safety, Weziwe Tikana-Gxothiwe, in response to a parliamentary question from the Democratic Alliance.
According to Tikana there were at least 1 242 claims against police in the 2020/2021 financial year of which 710 were for wrongful arrest and 168 claims for assault.
There were also 66 claims for collisions, 56 claims against the police for shooting incidents, and 47 for illegal search and seizures, among others.
DA MPL, Bobby Stevenson, said despite the ever-increasing claims brought against police, the government has failed to capacitate the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID), which is tasked with investigating police misconduct.
He said Tikana also revealed that there was only one IPID office to service the entire Eastern Cape.
“IPID has a severe lack of capacity to investigate police misconduct, which is leading to a breakdown of trust between the community and the police.
He said the “breakdown of claims against police paints a picture of a violent police service that is clearly not upholding the law or respecting the rights of residents, with little or no consequences.”
Stevenson said despite the escalating numbers, not one police officer was suspended as a result of claims that have been resolved, and which have been awarded against police in the 2020/2021 financial year.
