LISTEN: Over 60 cases referred to NPA not dealt with, says Mashaba
Johannesburg Mayor Herman Mashaba has revealed that the city’s metro police has referred over 60 criminal cases to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for prosecution.
Mashaba was speaking at the official launch of the city’s monthly crime statistics report.
“To date, we have referred more than 60 matters to the NPA for prosecution but no demonstrable action has taken place. I even wrote a letter to President Cyril Ramaphosa requesting his intervention but all I got was an acknowledgment of receipt to my letter.”
He says the release of the monthly crime statistics will inform resident about the crime situation in the city and pressure national law enforcement agencies into action.
In a report delivered by JMPD chief, David Tembe, the unit said it has made progress in terms of arrests between January and August 2018, when compared to 2017.
“In 2017, drunken driving the arrest was at 8803. In 2018, since the inception of (anti-crime operation) Buya Mthetho, JMPD has arrested 7283 suspects. When it comes to reckless driving, in 2017 we arrested 222 people and this year we arrested 1449 people,” said Tembe.
In 2018, 24 people were arrested for illegal electricity connections.
Mashaba said such connections cost the city between R7 billion and R10 billion annually.
Arrests in other crimes such as assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, bribery of an officer, burglary and culpable homicide increase significantly in 2018 as compared to 2017.
Around 23 JMPD officials have been dismissed since January for fraud, corruption, dishonesty, and assault.