TMPD top cop ‘shocked and dismayed’ after alleged corruption revelations

The chief of the Tshwane Metropolitan Police Department (TMPD), Yolande Faro, said she was "shocked and dismayed" by the revelations made of corruption within the TMPD.

Faro is currently testifying before the Madlanga Commission on the alleged corruption and tender rigging within the TMPD.

The commission has heard how senior officials within the TMPD allegedly colluded with service providers to defraud the department and award contracts to their preferred companies.

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Faro said she has instituted disciplinary measures against people implicated before the commission.

In March, the TMPD's deputy chief, Umashi Dhlamini, was suspended after it was revealed at the commission that he colluded with controversial cop Sergeant Fannie Nkosi to manipulate tenders at the department.

"Recently. I have observed certain things within the TMPD, which has led me to take certain corrective steps and, where necessary, consequence management is in progress.

“However, over the past week, I have come to learn with great shock and dismay [about] what was apparently taking place in the TMPD, whether it was before my tenure or now in this time. It is not, it would seem issues of irregularities, but clear systems of siphoning of money and criminal activities."

SENIOR TMPD STAFFERS DON'T HAVE SECURITY CLEARANCE

Faro also revealed that some senior officers within the TMPD do not possess a “top-level security clearance”.

She added that while she has such a clearance, not all of her four deputies have them.

Faro said the State Security Agency (SSA) conducts clearances that entail lifestyle audits, background checks, polygraph tests and interviews with former colleagues.

In a statement submitted to the commission, Faro said it’s clear that there are criminal systems within TMPD designed to siphon money from it.

She was questioned about why some of her deputies do not have those clearances despite serving in senior positions.

“Commissioner, that is one of the things that we have to sharpen up. I think we must be honest when we come to this commission. Maybe we have taken it for granted. This is one of the things that must be compulsory. When I applied to the City of Tshwane, it was compulsory. It was in the advertisements, one of the requirements that said you must be security cleared.”