JOHANNESBURG - Police officers continue to find themselves in the firing line.
Gauteng Traffic Police Chief Inspector Samuel Mashaba is the latest law enforcement official to face scrutiny.
Mashaba has been placed on precautionary suspension pending a disciplinary hearing.
The suspension follows testimony presented at the Madlanga Commission that allegedly linked him to a criminal network.
During the proceedings, Commissioner Advocate Sesi Baloyi did not mince her words.
“You are involved in unlawful activities,” she told Mashaba.
For crime expert Dorothy Mmushi, the development comes as little surprise.
She said there has been a noticeable increase in disciplinary action against senior officials across law enforcement agencies, including the South African Police Service (SAPS), the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department and the Tshwane Metro Police Department.
“There has been an increase based on the lack of discipline by these individuals who are placed in law enforcement. And the expectation is that they should be acting ethically. This is because there are standing orders that they are supposed to be following,” she said.
The growing list of officials facing scrutiny extends to the highest levels of law enforcement.
National Commissioner Fannie Masemola is facing charges under the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) linked to the R360-million tender awarded to a company associated with Vusimuzi Matlala.
READ | Masemola in court over controversial R360m SAPS tender
The PFMA regulates financial management in national government and seeks to ensure that public funds and assets are managed efficiently and effectively.
More recently, five senior SAPS officers were suspended in connection with the controversial Medicare24 contract.
They include four generals and one senior officer.
Several senior officials have been suspended, while others face criminal charges for their alleged roles in the multi-million-rand contract.
Meanwhile, a police captain attached to the SAPS Forensic Science Laboratory has been arrested and charged with defeating the ends of justice.
He was arrested by the Commission Recommendations Task Team following testimony before the Madlanga Commission.
As allegations of deep-rooted corruption within the criminal justice system continue to emerge, public confidence in law enforcement remains under pressure.
READ | Gauteng traffic chief inspector accused of links to criminal network
Mmushi said misconduct and criminality involving SAPS members contribute significantly to public distrust.
“One of the fundamental principles of policing is the collaboration between the community and the police and the reason that there's this level of mistrust is based on what we have seen at the Malanga Commission, what we have known as society even of the various acts of misconduct and police brutality that we've seen over the years and the sad thing is we have noticed that the SAPS does not hold those who have transgressed the law to account.”
She added that public mistrust is fuelled by revelations at the Madlanga Commission, as well as years of allegations involving misconduct and police brutality.
According to Mmushi, South Africa already has the necessary legislation and policies in place.
Many of the allegations emerging from the Madlanga Commission date back several years, highlighting what critics describe as entrenched problems within law enforcement structures.
While many view the commission as an opportunity to expose wrongdoing, questions remain about whether it will ultimately succeed in rooting out corruption.
Mmushi believes the commission is a positive step.
“The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry has just been that stepping stone that has now forced the government to start acting immediately with regard to the rot that's been happening within SAPS, as well as some of its law enforcement agencies as well. So, what is important is that all of these things that are coming out of there are getting the necessary attention.”
She also pointed to the Commission Recommendations Task Team (CRTT), established within SAPS to investigate matters arising from the commission.
“We are seeing arrests, we are seeing disciplinary action, we've seen even a recent sanction as well, where one of the individuals that was fingered at the Madanga Commission was dismissed from the SAPS for causing reputational damage to the SAPS. So, I think we will be seeing a lot of those. This is just the beginning,” she added.
Mmushi added that SAPS appears to be taking steps towards reform.
“The SAPS has announced that they're now going on to a reset agenda where they are looking at ways of fixing all of the issues that they have identified during the Madanga Commission of Inquiry, especially issues in relation to supply chain irregularities, and issues in terms of discipline and how the police conduct themselves.
“I feel the SAPS is trying to make efforts to put in place reforms to make sure that what has happened doesn't happen again,” she concluded.