MEDIA STATEMENT
TO: ALL MEDIA
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: 4 July 2023
COMMITTEE CALLS FOR APPROPRIATE ACTION AGAINST LAW-BREAKING SAPS OFFICERS
The Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s (GPL) Portfolio Committee on Community Safety has strongly condemned the violent behavior of SAPS officers captured in a viral video on social media – and calls for action against those found guilty.
The video shows heavily armed SAPS officers brutally assaulting civilians, which is a clear indication of human rights violation and goes against current government efforts to build trust amongst the SAPS and the public.
Committee Chairperson, Honourable Bandile Masuku, said, “We welcome the initiative by SAPS management to further investigate the matter. We also call on the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) to conduct its own investigation and bring to book those found in transgression of the SAPS code of conduct in this regard.”
“There is no gainsaying that SAPS officers should always maintain the highest standard of integrity and conduct themselves in a professional manner – striving to serve the public with dignity. This is important as a driver of public trust and confidence in the work of SAPS,” Hon. Masuku said.
The Committee will continue to monitor this incident closely to ensure that appropriate action is taken where SAPS officers are found to be on the wrong side of the law.
ISSUED BY GPL’S MEDIA SERVICES ON BEHALF OF CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON COMMUNITY SAFETY, HONOURABLE BANDILE MASUKU
For interview requests with the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee please contact: Mr. Thebe Khumalo on 072 266 1021 email: TKhumalo@gpl.gov.za
GAUTENG PROVINCIAL LEGISLATURE
