Chairperson, in the past year, 22 police officers, the most in six years, have been reported to the Independent Complaints Directorate for allegedly raping members of the public, including - I shudder to add - children. It would be shocking if even one of our police officers, who are supposed to protect us, were accused of such an act. But reports of this nature only serve to further undermine the public's already shaky confidence in the SAPS.
However, what is just as shocking is that apparently these officers' colleagues in the police are covering up for them, with the result that not one of the 22 have been charged or convicted for their crimes.
Police officers are reportedly hiding evidence against their colleagues so that charges are withdrawn. In other cases, police officers have been arrested, only to be released on petty-cash bail amounts.
According to the ICD, this is only the tip of the iceberg. If this assessment is true, a major investigation must take place immediately, and the question must be asked: Why is this only coming to our attention now, and why isn't such an investigation well under way?
The situation is utterly outrageous. The matter must be dealt with urgently by the Minister of Safety and Security, in an attempt, perhaps, to restore our faith in the integrity of our police officers and the efficacy of the SAPS as an entity worthy of respect.