Paul Kirk
From June 1 last year to July 4 this year, 106 police were dismissed from the South African Police Service in KwaZulu-Natal. Seven of them were convicted of murder.
These figures were released last week by the minister of safety and security in response to a question in Parliament about how many police had been fired and for what offences.
The list of dismissed cops does not include the province’s most famous alleged police rogue. Senior Superintendent Piet Meyer, one-time commander of the organised crime unit, is still on suspension. Meyer, who was described as “Durban’s biggest gangster” by another senior policemen in court papers, is drawing a full salary while his trial continues.
The list also includes policemen convicted of serious disciplinary offences but not fired. It does not name the rogues, but reveals that a Pietermaritzburg policeman is still wearing blue after being convicted of 15 counts of corruption. The policeman was sentenced to a fine of R5 000 or 18 months and a suspended sentence.
A policeman in the rural town of Mpumalanga who was convicted of murder is still serving after being sentenced to two years in prison.
Among those convicted of disciplinary offences but not fired are 14 policemen arrested for reckless and negligent driving and five arrested for drunk driving while on duty.
A policeman was also fired for not reporting for work and using narcotics. One was fired for “desertion” and three for moonlighting as armed robbers.
Also on the list is Anil Jelal, who was fired after being convicted of the unlawful possession of the machine gun that was used in the murder of Richmond warlord Sifiso Nkabinde.
Only one policeman has been convicted of rape since 1999 a crime that has reached epidemic proportions in South Africa.