SAPS is facing civil claims worth more than R100 billion for multiple alleged offences

The SAPS is facing civil claims of more than R100 billion for multiple alleged committed by the police, including police brutality cases and wrongful arrests.

The police said by the end of March this year, they had received 51,000 civil claims for R108bn.

Auditor-general Tsakani Maluleke flagged the civil claims against the SAPS, saying they were creating uncertainty on the finances of the police. 

“As disclosed in note 18 to the financial statements, the department is a defendant in a number of lawsuits. The department is opposing the claims, as it believes they are not valid. The ultimate outcome of these matters cannot be determined and no provision for any liability that may result was made in the financial statements,” said the Auditor-General Maluleke.

Maluleke added that some claims are overstated and amounts disclosed are not the amounts claimed, rather the amount determined as the most likely amount the court will settle on.

 

Done by: Esona Mfazwe