Cachalia says organised crime severely damaging SA

Acting police minister Firoz Cachalia has raised concern saying organised crime is severely damaging the country.

A task team has now been established to investigate senior members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) and Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) officials named in the interim report of the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.

The commission was established by President Cyril Ramaphosa to probe allegations of police corruption.

The report found that there is prima facie evidence suggesting criminal conduct, fraud, and corruption involving a total of 14 SAPS and EMPD officials.

ALSO READ: Cachalia says task team to investigate senior SAPS & EMPD members named in Madlanga Commission interim report

Speaking during the release of the third quarter crime statistics, Cachalia says tackling organised crime requires vetting and lifestyle audits to remove officials who collude with criminals from SAPS's top ranks.

"The national commissioner and I have agreed that the panels set up to deal with those disciplinary cases will be presided over by an outside expert," said Cachalia.