Police Minister Bheki Cele says those who are charged with the responsibility of dealing with corruption, must rise and do their work.
“I am tired of police officers who do not serve the people. Every energy we have must be used to fight corruption,” he said on Friday.
The Minister was speaking at the launch of the South African Police Service (SAPS’s) Anti-Corruption Strategy at the SAPS Academy in Tshwane.
According to SAPS, the launch is in line with reaffirming the organisation’s commitment to combatting fraud and corruption within its ranks.
The launch of the strategy also coincides with Africa Public Service Month, which is celebrated annually in the month of June with this year’s theme: “Winning the fight against Corruption”.
Cele appealed to members of the public to use the anti-corruption hotline to report any form of the act. He also supported the idea of having a database of people convicted of corruption.
National Police Commissioner General Khehla Sitole sent a stern warning to SAPS members who may be involved in corrupt activities.
“The SAPS is a leading role player in the criminal justice system and cannot afford to tolerate any unethical behaviour or corrupt members within our ranks.
“Corruption undermines the rule of law. As the SAPS management, we are determined to fight corruption wherever and whenever it manifests and we will ensure that the perpetrators are brought to book,” General Sitole said.
The Anti-Corruption Strategy sets out strategic objectives to be pursued by the SAPS management in terms of preventing and combating corruption within the SAPS.
The strategy is based on five broad pillars: leadership, prevention of corruption, detection of corruption, investigating corruption and resolution of corruption.
In line with Government prescripts such as Chapter 2 of the Public Service Regulations 2016, the SAPS has developed and implemented the SAPS Employment Regulations Act of 2017.
The regulations among other things, prohibits SAPS members from conducting business with any organ of the state.
The SAPS has also implemented a national instruction which prohibits SAPS members from conducting remunerative work outside the SAPS in the following fields: the taxi industry, the liquor industry and in the security industry among a host of other work.
At the launch, SAPS management including all nine provincial commissioners, signed an Ethics and Integrity pledge committing themselves to fighting corruption within the police service. – SAnews.gov.za
