More than R4 billion in Civil Claims against Gauteng SAPS in two years

25 November 2014

According to a response to DA questions in the Provincial Legislature, Gauteng MEC for Community Safety, Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane, indicated that more than R4 billion has been claimed against the SAPS in civil matters over the past two years.

R773 million was claimed in 2013/14, while claims from April to September 2014 alone amounted to R3.4 billion.

Claims vary across a number of different categories, including but not limited to:

Arrest/Detention: R493 million in 2013/14 and R3,2 billion in 2014/15

Collisions: R4,9 million in 2013/14 and R5 million in 2014/15

Assault: R21 million in 2013/14 and R40 million in 2014/15

Shooting incidents: R29 million in 2013/14 and R22 million in 2014/15

Negligence: R25 million in 2013/14 and R5 million in 2014/15

For the full reply, please click here.

These shocking numbers are testament to the state of the SAPS in Gauteng and reflect nothing but inadequate training and poor discipline.

I will be following up with the MEC to establish how she will be addressing this enormous increase in claims in the current year; in particular, what will be done to improve competence assessments and training for the SAPS in Gauteng.

We cannot accept that the very people entrusted with upholding the law and protecting us are the subject of billions of rands worth of civil claims.

Statement issued by Michele Clarke MPL, DA Gauteng spokesperson on Community Safety, November 25 2014

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