Minister Marais on arrest of four police officers

Western Cape Minister of Police Oversight and Community Safety Anroux Marais has congratulated the South African Police Service (SAPS) Western Cape Anti-Corruption Unit on the arrest of four suspects for a house robbery in Llandudno, but has expressed shock and concern over the fact that they are also police members.

Minister Marais said, “The excellent detective work by the Anti-Corruption Unit is impressive, as well as the fact that they served justice without fear or favour, doing their job even as they realised the suspects would be none other than their very own colleagues.”

The Minister agrees with the sentiments expressed by Western Cape Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Thembisile Patekile that police officers are supposed to uphold the law and protect the public. These arrests must, therefore, serve as a warning to those who think they can abuse the resources of the state for their disgraceful purposes.

“I am shocked and concerned that the available evidence seems to point at police officers being the culprits in what is reportedly a multi-million rand heist. I will be issuing a court watching brief so that we keep track of the details of this case,” Minister Marais continued.

“The Thulare Report, which is currently being implemented by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID), pointed to deeply concerning levels of police involvement in criminal activities in the Western Cape. Such actions cannot stand, and must be dealt with in the strictest possible way. If found guilty, the accused, and any accomplices they may have had, will have to face the full might of the law,”  Minister Marais concluded.