Cape Town - The portfolio committee on police said they were concerned that many issues had been swept under the rug at the police academy in Philippi.
This was pointed out as the parliamentarians paid an oversight visit.
The condition of the buildings and lack of accountability and action were among the issues raised.
This is the same college where employees reportedly rented out the SAPS-issued catering equipment and also where a captain was fired over an alleged rape.
The Hawks and the police's top brass explained that they were busy with investigations into all the allegations made by whistle-blowers.
The Hawk's provincial head, Major-General Mathipa Makgato, said they had been busy with an inquiry since October last year and they were taking their findings to an internal auditor.
“We have interviewed witnesses and we collected the final statements in June. The internal audit will then quantify how much the state lost, and we hope that the audit will not take long.”
Committee chairperson Ian Cameron said: “We visited the Philippi Training Academy after very serious allegations of corruption and mismanagement over the last few years.
“In fact, since 2017 we have it on good authority that the college has not been audited. We've raised major concerns with regard to large amounts of money that cannot be accounted for.”
Cameron added: “Several other serious incidents happened, like personal access to bank accounts where funds of students were allegedly misappropriated. And what we questioned today was, why has it taken so long for any kind of resolve with regard to the investigation?
“The same people who are implicated still have access to the college, and the people who rented out the catering equipment. There is no indication of criminal action against the employee who stole three magazines from the shooting range.
“Earlier this year we heard about a trainee who was raped at the college. We are happy that the police were so quick to dismiss the employee.”
Cameron questioned how an inquiry by the Hawks and the police could take up to almost a year.
The national head of the Hawks, Godfrey Lebeya, said matters may have been happening over six years.
“They were only reported for the first time late last year. We are investigating every possible criminal activity that may have happened, whether it is the contravention of the Public Finance Management Act, which comes in different shapes, and corruption. We are looking at whatever crime could have been committed.”
Divisional Commissioner for Human Resources Development (HRD) Dr Bongiwe Zulu said they had appointed sexual harassment officers.
“The two officers, female and male, are in all the academies. There are appointed sexual harassment nodal point officers and advisory committee of division HRD. They are already performing this function where cases are reported.”
Cameron highlighted the state in which some of the bathrooms were.
“The majority of bathrooms didn't have warm water, and there were no functioning lights. There was a sewage leak.
“You can't expect to train functioning cops with that kind of environment. The trainees said they sometimes get enough food.
“It certainly can't be that we treat new recruits, who are willing to give their lives to protect and serve their country, in such a manner.”
The committee said they would return to the college in November for feedback on investigations and also check on the infrastructure.
mandilakhe.tshwete@inl.co.za