Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by David Mc Kay MPL and Sesotho soundbite by Jafta Mokoena MPL. See attached picture here.
The DA’s pressure for accountability has led to the arrest of a 30-year-old Constable attached to the Dealesville SAPS Crime Prevention Unit, following the Provincial Anti-Corruption Unit’s execution of a warrant.
Her co-accused, a 32-year-old male and the current ANC Youth League chairperson for the area, was also apprehended.
Both face four counts of corruption after allegedly visiting local spaza shops, coercing donations, and making false representations for personal gain, breaching their duty to serve the community.
These arrests, following direct DA oversight and sustained pressure for clean governance, mark a critical first step toward restoring accountability and trust in Dealesville’s law enforcement bodies.
We held a public meeting where we handed over a petition to the Commissioner and subsequently wrote to the Commissioner to raise our concerns. The DA Spokesperson for Agriculture in the Free State Legislature has also been instrumental in addressing issues surrounding police staffing and the availability of police positions.
We have further called for cases to be opened and for IPID to investigate matters of concern, including incidents involving dog hunting and drunk driving.
The DA reiterates our call for SAPS to broaden the investigation to include further reported illicit activities, including allegations that other Dealesville SAPS officers were implicated in illegal dog hunting and in driving under the influence while on duty.
Equally troubling, similar allegations have also surfaced at the Boshof and Hertzogville precincts.
These repeated patterns of alleged misconduct underscore the need for an urgent, comprehensive, province-wide crackdown on corruption and unethical behaviour within SAPS.
We remain committed to ensuring that all law enforcement officers adhere to the highest standards of integrity and service. We will pursue formal parliamentary questions and engage relevant authorities to demand transparent investigation outcomes and the prosecution of all implicated individuals.
The DA will continue to monitor SAPS conduct and will not relent until community safety, professionalism, and ethical policing are restored throughout the Free State.
We are calling for immediate disciplinary action and a full audit of all SAPS precincts where similar allegations have surfaced, to demonstrate that crime and corruption will not be tolerated.