Three Lwandle police officers are out on a R2 000 bail each after being nabbed for alleged corruption and defeating the administration of justice on Thursday 17 March.
The officers, a sergeant and two constables, aged between 23 and 35 were caught by the Anti-Corruption Unit.
It is alleged the officers searched premises in Lwandle where they found dagga. They asked the suspect to pay an amount of money to avoid being arrested.
Capt Frederick van Wyk, provincial police spokesperson, said the members took three bankies of dagga and left the rest with the suspect.
The three police suspects appeared in the Strand Magistrates’ Court on Friday 18 March and were all released on bail.
Van Wyk said police management in the province will not hesitate in taking action against officers who find themselves on the wrong side of the law, as there is no space in the police for criminals.
Community Policing Forum (CPF) chair Siya Macaula said time and time again they get reports from residents about corrupt police officers from Lwandle. He said they encourage people to report such actions to authorities.
“As the CPF we would be happy if residents have taken our advice on such matters so that those police can be dealt with accordingly.
“Our worry as the CPF is that if we have corrupt police, that will make it even more difficult for the community to trust and have confidence on our police,” he said. “Police are seen as protectors and of great assistance in communities throughout the country, but if they are found to be on the wrong side of the law, that makes things difficult. No community will trust such police and this will dent the working relationship between police and the community,” said Macaula.
He said, he hoped law will take its course, and if the police are found guilty, they need to be taken out of the system as they may also corrupt others.
Macaula said without community involvement, police will find it difficult to work in such a community.