More than 4,000 people wrongfully arrested during 23/24 financial year

JOHANNESBURG - Police have wrongfully arrested over 4,000 people during the last financial year between April 2023 and March this year.

This has been revealed in a parliamentary response by Police Minister Senzo Mchunu to questions posed by Rise Mzansi.

During the 2023/2024 financial year, SAPS registered a total of 4,135 cases of wrongful arrest - an average rate of 11 people per day.

These wrongful arrests have led to the state being currently sued for over R2.2 billion.

Rise Mzansi member of Parliament, Makashule Gana, who also serves on the police portfolio committee, said that there needed to be an investigation to determine how much of an issue wrongful arrests were within SAPs and why they happen so frequently.

"Wrongful arrests erode the trust between the public and the police, it is therefore important to understand this phenomenon in full by putting the matter on the portfolio committee’s agenda and for it to intervene where necessary."

Police ministerial spokesperson, Kamogelo Mogotsi, said that this was an undesirable situation and required a thorough review.