[LISTEN] It's painful to arrest our own but it needs to be done, says Cele
Minister of Police, Bheki Cele has spoken out about law enforcement officers working with criminals in the commissioning of crimes.
"We will encourage all police to be good men and women in blue but if they deviate it is painful, but we really have to deal with them according to the law," says Cele.
Cele spoke exclusively to Jacaranda FM News on Monday.
"It's a sad thing. When I speak to the police I say look one painful thing to do is arrest a member of the SAPS or law enforcement."
He reacted to the arrest of a female Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD) officer, allegedly linked to two cash-in-transit heists in Boksburg in May.
She and her boyfriend allegedly stored weapons, while the 32-year old boyfriend has been linked with various cash heists.
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Cele confirmed that in the past month alone, police have arrested 17 "rotten apples" officers in Eastern Cape and two in Mpumalanga.
When asked what he would like to achieve in his portfolio, he says "when a young woman in the middle of the night walks alone, from wherever she comes from and going wherever she wants to go, without anyone accompanying her and (doing so) without any fear of assault, attack or rape."