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police chief 'cooked crime statistics'

Frank Maponya

Frank Maponya

The management of the SA Police Service in Limpopo has been asked to forward a detailed report about its investigations into the activities at Tzaneen police station to safety, security and liaison MEC Ratshivhanda Ndou.

Ndou reportedly sent a letter yesterday demanding to be furnished with a report about the SAPS' findings and subsequent action regarding former head of Tzaneen police station assistant commissioner Khazamula Ngoveni.

The report is to be forwarded to Ndou within seven days.

Ndou's spokesman Oriel Nemukula has confirmed the letter was sent to provincial commissioner Calvin Sengani's office yesterday and that a response was expected within seven days.

"The MEC has raised concerns about the negative publicity that Tzaneen police station has attracted recently over allegations that its head had manipulated crime statistics, hence the swift action," Nemukula said yesterday.

He said Ndou would not dwell much into the matter before studying the report.

"It would be difficult for the MEC to say whether the reports about Ngoveni were true or not.

"But we hope the report the MEC has requested from the SAPS will go a long way in giving direction as to what to do thereafter," said Nemukula."

Provincial police spokesman Senior Superintendent Motlafela Mojapelo had hinted that investigations into Ngoveni's alleged shenanigans had been concluded but refused to divulge any details.

Ngoveni, who was recently appointed to the position of cluster commander for the Tzaneen, Maake, Heanertsburg, Letsitele, Bolobedu and Modjadjiskloof policing areas, is being probed on allegations of manipulating figures to create an impression that the areas that were previously under his control were the best policed in the country.

Before the latest developments, Ngoveni was in charge of Tzaneen, NkowaNkowa and Bolobedu South police stations.

His juniors claimed he had downplayed some crimes and under reported others, resulting in his station being moved from the "600th worst station in the country" to No 1.

They claimed they went along with the deceit because they had been intimidated to keep quiet.

Ngoveni is also alleged to have recorded several housebreaking cases in his area as mere "trespassing" offences.

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