The fact that the #BlueLightMafia eight are back at work after the South African Police Service allowed their paid suspension to lapse by failing to conclude their internal disciplinary process in the prescribed 60 days, demonstrates how the Minister of Police, Bheki Cele and the National Police Commissioner, Fannie Masemola are actively promoting a culture of criminality in the SAPS.
According to Ian Cameron, Director of Community Safety at Action Society, there is a clear pattern emerging where criminals inside the SAPS are protecting criminals against justice instead of a Police service protecting the public against criminals by serving justice. “If the minister and police commissioner think that the public interest in this case, like in many others involving corrupt police officials, will die down eventually if they just avoid the subject, they are mistaken because we will not shut up.”
On Saturday, national police commissioner, Fannie Masemola couldn’t confirm the BlueLightMafia eight’s employment status, noting that officers usually return to duty after their suspension period has lapsed. By Monday, police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe confirmed that the eight are back at the office, but not operational, pending the conclusion of the “ongoing” internal disciplinary process.
Action Society will continue to mobilise civil society to demand that the #BlueLightMafia eight are unmasked in court, prosecuted to the full extent of the law, dismissed from the South African Police Service (SAPS) and that their access to personal weapons must be taken away as they are clearly not fit and proper to carry a firearm.
“SAPS officers should be held at a higher standard. They are not above the law.”
