Durban — KwaZulu-Natal police have confirmed to the Daily News the theft of exhibit cash from the Mountain Rise police station in Pietermaritzburg.
It is alleged that this week, it was realised at the station that cash that had been handed in as an exhibit, had gone missing.
The cash was handed in last year, but was allegedly signed out by an officer six days later.
Without any further information given, police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Nqobile Gwala said: “A case of theft is investigated by Mountain Rise SAPS. The matter is still under investigation.”
Police, despite being asked for more information, including details about where and how the said cash was initially seized, what its value was and how much is now missing, only confirmed the theft and that there was an ongoing investigation by the same police station.
The official opposition in the KZN legislature has called on police management to leave no stone unturned, following the allegations of theft.
“These allegations provide much cause for concern, and if they prove to be true, are all the more shocking considering how long the money has been missing. We demand that a thorough investigation must be conducted into this matter,” said IFP KZN spokesperson for community safety and liaison, Blessed Gwala.
He said that he was preparing a string of questions to be answered by the police.
“We demand answers from the police on the following: Has money indeed been stolen?
“If yes, who was on duty on the day the money was stolen? Who discovered that the money was stolen? Has a case of theft been opened? What case was the stolen money connected to as an exhibit? This issue deserves urgent attention from relevant authorities and if the money is indeed missing, it indicates a lack of monitoring at the Mountain Rise police station,” he said.
Gwala further said that it must then be ascertained whether there are other staff members working with the thief.
“We have, on numerous occasions, raised concerns about people who masquerade as police officers, while at the same time are committing criminal acts. Corrupt police officers must be weeded out from the SAPS, as they tarnish the image of the police,” he said.
Daily News