LISTEN: Cele to clamp down on police corruption, introduce lifestyle audits
Police Minister Bheki Cele says officers need to be serious about fighting corruption.
Cele spoke at the launch of the South Africa Police Service’s (SAPS) anti-corruption strategy, which is aimed at rooting out corruption within the police force.
“Commissioner, there are things we can’t postpone or delay anymore. I want us to begin to engage of the lifestyles of our members. We need to know if our lives fit our benefits, because you cannot have a young constable living in a house that costs R1.8 million.”
The new strategy will also focus on strengthening the police's ethical committee to ensure that officers are properly vetted.
The police will also introduce measures which will focus on preventing corruption instead of just reacting to it.
“We will be getting two prominent South Africans to join the ethics committee. They will be checking every step we are taking forward rather than us checking ourselves,” Cele told reporters.
He could not provide details on the number of officers arrested in connection with corruption, as "investigations are ongoing".
“We have already said in Eastern Cape we have arrested 17 police and we are investigating some of them. We arrest someone today and the case is linked to someone else tomorrow, so when we have definite numbers we will release them.
Cele also called for harsher sentences to be imposed on officers found guilty of corruption.
Listen below: