TLU SA had enough of the Police Department’s mismanagement and today launched a campaign to get the minister, Bheki Cele, fired.
Under his mismanagement of the department:
- The police cannot trace their official firearms;
- Around 8million pieces of evidence – many from gruesome farm attacks – were lost because the minister refuses to pay for an approved system within the approved budget;
- A brigadier from KwaZulu-Natal was promoted to major-general ten years after 98 firearms went missing on his watch; and
- Detectives must pay out of their own pockets for equipment, transport and uniforms because of poor management of resources, which affects their work.
As police commissioner, Cele was investigated and suspended in 2011, after evidence of corruption and maladministration came to light. He continued to receive his salary of R1,3million until 2013, when he was finally given the boot.
“Research proved many times over how a bad manager can negatively influence a whole company,” says Mr Henry Geldenhuys, TLU SA president. “In the police force, we have members who follow his example, and they give the members who genuinely want to uphold their responsibility as protectors of safety a terrible reputation. Our problem lies not with police officers who support our farmers and walk the extra mile, but with criminals in the force and the number-one-enemy of safety in the country, Bheki Cele. He must tsamaea!”
The parliamentary portfolio committee for police recently heard that Forensic Data Service switched off the police’s firearm permit system to manage thousands of official firearms. The police neglected to pay for the software’s copyright even though it had an approved budget, and the case went to court.
Forensic Data Services handles the register of the DNA evidence gathered at crime scenes. They switched this system off as well, and now more than 8 million pieces of evidence are lost.
Both systems are updated manually at the moment. It holds an enormous implication for tracking stolen firearms and evidence and, as a result, gives criminals free rein.
“The police system is a mess because Bheki Cele is obsessed with a show of power instead of protecting South Africans,” says Mr Geldenhuys. “Cele must be fired as the Minister of Police. We hope that his replacement will clean house and that the department will follow a fresh approach to strengthen safety in South Africa.”
Follow this link to support the campaign: https://www.tlu.co.za/en/tsamaea-cele-eng/
Issued by: TLU SA
Date: 30 March 2021
Enquiries: Mr Henry Geldenhuys, President TLU SA,
Cell.: 083 560 1273
Mr Bennie van Zyl, General Manager TLU SA,
Cell.: 082 466 4470
