Question NW2967 to the Minister of Police
22 September 2015 - NW2967
Redelinghuys, Mr MH to ask the Minister of Police
(1)Whether the SA Police Service(SAPS) has policies or guidelines for enforcing legislation on sex work and suspected sex workers; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) whether SAPS members are trained about the specified policies or guidelines; (3) whether the specified training includes (a) apprehending suspected sex workers, (b) searching their person and (c) identifying suspected sex workers; (4) (a) how many complaints against SAPS members regarding (i) assault and/or (ii) abuse of suspected sex workers have been received in the (aa) 2012-13, (bb) 2013-14 and (cc) 2014-15 financial years and (b)(i) what were the outcomes of the specified investigations and (ii) what action has been taken against the specified SAPS members?
Reply:
- Submitted to Parliament on 6 September 2015.
- Submitted to Parliament on 6 September 2015.
- Submitted to Parliament on 6 September 2015.
- The following replies are provided based on the information retrieved:
(4)(a) Complaints against SAPS members regarding:
(4)(a)(i) Assault complaints:
(4)(a)(i)(aa) 2012/2013 = 1
(4)(a)(i)(bb) 2013/2014 = 13
(4)(a)(i)(cc) 2014/2015 = 2
(4)(a)(ii) Abuse of suspected sex workers:
(4)(a)(ii)(aa) 2012/2013 = 2
(4)(a)(ii)(bb) 2013/2014 = 4 (including unlawful arrest)
(4)(a)(ii)(cc) 2014/2015 = 8
(4)(b) Investigations and outcomes:
(4)(b)(i) Outcomes of the specified investigations:
Of the 32 allegations/complaints against members, seven criminal cases were registered. Of the seven cases registered against members, three were withdrawn in court, two were still being investigated by IPID, one was finalized as nolle proseque while the remaining one is still on the court roll.
(4)(b)(ii) Action has been taken against the specified SAPS members:
One member received a written warning (Mufuleni - DR 32/2014) and findings against other two members were that departmental steps were not required (Cape Town DR 308 and 309/2014).
END