MEC Shongwe to crack
the whip on misusers of state vehicles
Media Statement
28 November 2010
Mpumalanga is intending to conduct
roadblocks aimed at arresting police
officers who will be found misusing
state vehicles or driving them without
permits.
Mpumalanga Safety, Security and Liaison
MEC Vusi Shongwe made the announcement
on Friday at a hand-over ceremony of 79
new police vehicles to various police
stations.
Shongwe said he was aware that
communities complain that the shortage
of police vehicles at the stations were
due to misuse by some officers who
utilised them to do their private
things.
“People are raising genuine concerns out
there. It is true that some officers are
corrupt and misuse police vehicles by
visiting their girlfriends, ferry people
or transport illegal goods using these
vehicles.
“From now on, we will ensure that every
police vehicle on the road is properly
dispatched and occupants are authorised
to be in those vehicles.
“Anyone who will be found to be on the
wrong side of the law will be subjected
to appropriate disciplinary action. We
cannot tolerate ill-disciplined
officers; they will all be flushed out
of the system. We rather have few good
officers instead of the huge number of
ineffective police officers,” said MEC
Shongwe.
The MEC explained that it was the
responsibility of police officers to
ensure that their credibility is
demonstrated to the public. He said they
needed to use the vehicles as if they
owned them because the community will be
playing the watch-dog role.
“Keep these vehicles new, I do not want
to see scratches, these are your working
tools, they are yours,” he said.
Speaking at the same event, Community
Policing Forum Provincial Chairperson,
Mr Mandla Mphuti appreciated Mpumalanga
SAPS management saying the tools will
enhance police visibility in the
communities.
Mphuti added that there would be no
excuses from the police for not
attending to crime scenes.
He emphasised that the officers who will
be utilising the vehicles be trained for
advanced driving in order for the
vehicles to remain in good condition.
According to the Provincial
Commissioner, Lieutenant General Thulani
Ntobela, the 79 vehicles handed over on
Friday is still the first batch. More
vehicles will be delivered in due course
to further enhance policing in the
province.
Enquiries: Joseph Mabuza
013 766 4055/ 082 678 1450
Issued by Mpumalanga Department of
Safety, Security and Liaison
|
