INLSA
Eager to get jobs in the eThekwini metro police department, 30 trainee constables allegedly resorted to buying driver’s licences after apparently heeding the advice of police officials.
This was revealed in the audit report done by Manase and Associates on the alleged fraudulent practices in the eThekwini municipality, which was released by Co-operative Governance MEC Nomusa Dube yesterday.
Metro police spokesman Eugene Msomi said the department needed time to peruse the report before making comment.
The report says there is “substance” to allegations that 30 trainee constables, who had recently been employed, had bought their licences to satisfy recruitment criteria.
“These recruits were referred to illegal driving schools by metro police college instructions. The Hawks are conducting an investigation into the matter.”
The report found that several high-ranking metro police officers had relatives employed within the department, but no evidence of nepotism relating to these appointments could be found.
The probe found that 14 metro police officers were allegedly taxi owners, which is in contravention of metro police policies and national legislation which disqualifies them from holding taxi operator licences.
The officers were identified due to outstanding fines ranging from R5 000 to R117 000 on their vehicles.
Misconduct
The report also refers to a certain metro police official, known to The Mercury, who has a pending criminal case against her and recommends that the officer be charged with misconduct.
A police constable was allegedly found to be operating an abnormal load escort business, to the detriment of the department.
“The revenue of the metro police is being negatively affected as this venture is taking normal business away from the abnormal loads section of the department.”
The report recommended that an independent review of the trainee constables’ driving skills should be conducted, and that the department should monitor the Hawks’ investigation into the matter.
The investigation team recommended that disciplinary action be taken against the officers who were taxi owners and the constable with the abnormal load escort business.
The Road Traffic Management Corporation spokesman Ashref Ismail said the licences could only be nullified if it was revealed at the conclusion of a criminal case that they were illegally obtained.
Ismail added that action should be taken against officers who were found to have contravened policies by being taxi owners.
The report called for a full investigation into other allegations including the misuse of overtime payments by metro police and recommended that action be taken against officers found guilty of misconduct.
“Numerous other allegations were levelled against the metro police which the investigation team, due to time constraints, have not investigated. Consequently, further investigation should be conducted,” the report says.
