Members of SA’s elite crime-fighting unit the Hawks will soon be subjected to integrity tests which will include drug and alcohol abuse and polygraph checks as police minister Senzo Mchunu attempts to clean up the service of rogue elements.
Mchunu has moved to amend SA Police Service (SAPS) regulations for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, the official name of the Hawks.
This is an effort to ensure that the integrity of the elite unit, which replaced the feared Scorpions, is beyond reproach.
The amendment says the head of the Hawks may authorise in writing to have a member of the force avail themselves for an alcohol test.
“A relevant member, who, without good reason, fails to provide a specimen of breath as required, commits misconduct and if found guilty, will be subject to the sanction for disobeying a lawful order, command or instruction in terms of the SA Police Discipline Regulations.”
The same would apply for drug tests if members refuse to supply urine samples. The amendment said if there is evidence of alcohol and or drugs, the Hawks boss should take action against such a member, with several options open to the head of the elite unit. These include requiring the member to undergo rehabilitation.
The head of the Hawks can also suspend a member until there is no “evidence of alcohol in his or her breath or no longer has evidence of a drug in his or her urine”.
Another option available to the unit head will be to subject members to medical examinations to determine their fitness to perform their duties.
Transferring offending members within the SAPS or dismissing members will also be available as corrective measures at the disposal of the Hawks’ top brass.
The alcohol and drug tests will be limited to when a member reports for duty, while on duty and “while on call for duty”.
As it relates to members found to have been deceitful in polygraph or “similar” tests, the amendment said a report of the outcome of the tests should be submitted to the unit’s integrity section for further investigation.
“Integrity section must, as soon as such investigation ... is finalised, submit the investigation report to the head of the directorate and to the vetting officers for further handling.”
Members of the Hawks, regardless of rank will also be required to every year “not later than April 30” disclose to the minister their financial interests and those of their immediate family members.
Former minister of police Bheki Cele, in a written reply to a DA parliamentary question, disclosed that 5,489 SAPS members were arrested since 2019 for various crimes including murder, burglary, corruption and extortion.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.