Latest news with #Mashaile
IOL News
a day ago
- IOL News
SAPS plan to deploy more detectives lacks prevention strategy, expert says
Security strategist Andy Mashaile says the SAPS plan to boost detective numbers will aid investigations but warns it won't prevent violent crime. Image: Ayanda Ndamane / Independent Newspapers Security strategist and former Interpol ambassador Andy Mashaile has praised SAPS's initiative to deploy additional detectives to the 30 police stations with high rates of contact crime; however, he cautioned that this measure will not prevent crimes but rather assist in solving them. 'Sending additional detectives will only lead to a decreased number of crimes from an investigative point of view. It is not a preventative measure,' Mashaile told IOL News on Friday. 'While I see wisdom in beefing up detective services, throwing bodies into the system will add huge value in addressing cold cases and reducing backlogs at the top 30 stations.' Mashaile pointed to an overwhelming backlog as a major obstacle to the effective prosecution and conviction of criminals. 'In some precincts, a single officer might handle as many as 300 dockets. Some of them are bound to fall through the cracks. Some disappear and only God knows where they go.' He said such volume can push officers toward corruption, including selling case dockets. 'There are cases where police officers have been arrested, prosecuted, and convicted for selling dockets,' he said. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ However, he welcomed Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola's efforts to strengthen the detective division. 'I am more than impressed and support the minister and commissioner's turnaround strategy for detective services, so that crimes can be solved, cold cases reduced, and backlogs cleared,' he said. Earlier on Friday, IOL News reported that Masemola said on Friday that over 4,000 new officers will join SAPS detective services this year, with many recruited from newly trained constables. SAPS will also re-enlist former officers, hire retired detectives, and deploy 300 intelligence operatives and 675 forensic experts currently in training. Masemola added that 5,000 public order officers and 575 emergency call centre operators have been deployed, and 150 station commanders appointed in high-crime provinces to boost service delivery. Meanwhile, Mashaile welcomed the additional 785 detectives being assigned to the Hawks, calling it a 'much-needed relief.' 'The challenge now is ensuring these officers receive the rigorous training required for the Hawks,' he told IOL News. 'This is a specialised unit. Officers need to be upskilled in areas such as cybercrime and forensic investigations.'
IOL News
a day ago
- IOL News
'Get rid of rotten apples': Calls for accountability in SAPS after police officers arrested in drug scandal
Three members of the SAPS Flying Squad in Mpumalanga, Sergeant Solomon Mebo, Sergeant Jabulane Mbuyane, and Constable Lavandre LaReservee, were arrested while allegedly using SAPS car to escort a vehicle loaded with dagga. Image: SAPS Renowned security strategist, Andy Mashaile, a retired Interpol ambassador, has condemned the involvement of police officers in criminal activities. His remarks were expressed in an interview with IOL, following the arrest of three Mpumalanga members of the South African Police Service's Flying Squad unit for allegedly using a marked SAPS vehicle to escort a vehicle loaded with dagga. 'It is extremely disappointing for law enforcement officers to use the resources of the State to pursue personal agendas, using resources of the State for personal gain. I hope and pray that the investigation will lead to the conviction of these suspects who were wearing blue before,' said Mashaile. 'I can't wait for a judgment that turns their outfits from the blue uniform into orange overalls. Imagine the resource constraints that the SAPS has, and these vehicles being used for the commission of a crime.' Mashaile, the former Gauteng Community Policing Forum chairperson, has considerable respect for the Flying Squad unit of SAPS. Renowned security strategist Andy Mashaile, a retired Interpol ambassador, spoke to IOL on the involvement of police officers in crime. Image: Supplied 'The Flying Squad has been my favourite unit when I was the chairperson of the (CPF) board in Gauteng. Now that some of us are at a position where we can make a difference in terms of saving lives and creating a safe and secure environment, you get exposed to officers committing these crimes,' he said. 'I wish that within the confines of the law, they can spend no less than 15 to 20 years in jail for dealing in drugs and for defeating the ends of justice. I am disappointed and I wish to tell other law enforcement officers, especially from the Flying Squad, if you continue to do bad in that blue uniform, karma will get back at you.' Mashaile appealed to community members across South Africa to stay alert, and to report criminal police officers. Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel. 'Those wearing the blue uniform have the responsibility under the National Development Plan chapter 12 that says by 2030 the people of this country should be feeling safe, and they should actually be safe. Any agent that ensures that the people are not feeling safe by violating their own code of conduct, does not belong in the SAPS.' He added that internal disciplinary processes of the SAPS must be sharpened to expel the rotten apples within the police service. 'If we want to deal with the rot within law enforcement we must expel those members who commit crime. Those who came into the SAPS pretending to be law enforcement officers, only to find that they are criminals, must be expelled and they must be made to feel the pain of the law,' said Mashaile. The SAPS in Mpumalanga said three police officers, Sergeant Solomon Mebo, 49, Sergeant Jabulane Mbuyane, 43, and Constable Lavandre LaReservee, 32 appeared on Thursday before the Nelspruit Magistrate's Court facing charges of defeating ends of justice. The accused police officers were granted bail of R1,500 each. The matter was postponed to 25 July. Police said the two other suspects, Joel Mamba, 44, and Monica Zwane, 34, will appear in court on 17 June 2025 for bail application. On Tuesday, the SAPS in Mpumalanga said the three police officers were intercepted and arrested as they were allegedly escorting a vehicle trafficking dagga along the N4 Road near Matsulu T-junction. 'According to a report, the three members were driving in a marked police vehicle and they were in full uniform. The members were on duty at the time and the vehicle, a Toyota Corolla, was carrying 107 bags loaded with dagga,' said provincial police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Jabu Ndubane. 'The members from Matsulu SAPS received intelligence information about the dodgy activities and responded accordingly, and cornered the suspects. The three are facing charges in relation to corrupt activities that they were allegedly involved in,' said Ndubane. The three police officers were allegedly using a marked police vehicle to escort a Toyota Corolla loaded with dagga in Mpumalanga. Image: SAPS 'These members are also faced with the charge defeating the ends of justice. Other related charges could be added as the investigation continues.' Ndubane said the arrested police officers are attached to White River Flying Squad and were arrested by SAPS members from Matsulu. The other two suspects, Mamba and Zwane who were inside the vehicle that was transporting dagga, were nabbed alongside the members of the SAPS. These suspects are separately faced with a charge of dealing in dagga, and more charges could be added. Police said the confiscated dagga is estimated to be worth millions of rands, and all five suspects - the three police officers and the two alleged drug traffickers - appeared before the Nelspruit Magistrate's Court on Thursday. Meanwhile, internal disciplinary actions will be instituted against the three police officers. Acting provincial commissioner of SAPS in Mpumalanga, Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi has emphasised that no one is above the law, and if any police officer is found to have been involved in criminal activities, the law will take its course without any fear or favour. [email protected] IOL News
