Pretoria - Deputy Police Minister Fikile Mbalula has warned that the days were numbered for police officers who abused the positions and dabbled in crime.
Speaking at an Anti-Crime Summit in Pretoria on Monday, Mbalula said he was "firing a warning shot" at dishonest police officers because it was a futile exercise to try and fight crime with corrupt police.
"If you feel the oath is too heavy to honour, the door is open. Just leave what belongs to us on the station commander's table. The clock is ticking for all those corrupt officers," he said.
Mbalula added that recently some members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) had been tempted to become "fat cats" at the expense of the oath they took to serve and protect.
"Others have gone to the extent of using the very work instruments we gave them to further their unscrupulous attempts to rob and steal from the state and its citizens," he said.
He outlined "disturbing reports" of police officers abusing their badges, state vehicles, guns and even SAPS office space to carry out criminal activities.
"To all those police officers engaged in these kinds of acts we are firing a warning shot at you. Your time will come.
"...To members of the community who have made a habit of bribing officers in uniform just remember that it is a crime and that your time is also up," Mbalula said.
He warned that South Africa was not afraid to follow in the footsteps of the authorities in Colombia who had recently fired more than 200 police officers for "betraying the oath".
The deputy minister also had strong words for those police officers who were not in peak physical condition.
"Our message to police officers who still do not fit the image of the new police cadre is ship up or shape out."
He said the priority of police should be to provide a service to the people of the country and not "massaging their beer bellies".
During the summit, representatives of community policing forums and ordinary citizens expressed their concern about the high crime levels and lack of effective policing in their communities.
They identified corrupt police officers, slow response time by the SAPS, a lack of visible policing, the poor attitude and discipline of police officers, as some of the issues that needed to be addressed.
Gauteng's new police commissioner, Commissioner Lieutenant General Mzwandile Petros said partnerships between the police, communities, businesses and academic institutions would be the key to developing crime fighting strategies for Gauteng.
Strategies were already in place to increase visible policing, which was a deterrent to crime, and to improve the speed to police's response to crime, he said.
Fighting corruption within police ranks and ensuring a regular police presence in communities were also priorities, Petros added.
The Anti-Crime Summit, organised by Lead SA, an initiative launched by Primedia Broadcasting and Independent Newspapers in August, challenges ordinary South Africans to do the right thing on a daily basis and to counter negative perceptions about the country.
