Management of the South African Police Service (SAPS) is dealing “decisively” with corruption and other forms of criminality within the police force‚ according to police commissioner General Riah Phiyega.

She said on Sunday that over 1‚442 police members had been dismissed for various criminal and departmental reasons which indicated that police management had taken a decision to neither condone nor tolerate such elements within its ranks

She added that 270 SAPS members were currently on suspension‚ 85 with remuneration and 185 with no remuneration.

Police spokesman Lieutenant-General Solomon Makgale said on Sunday another warrant officer had been arrested at the Morebeng Police Station in Limpopo on a charge of corruption after he was found allegedly assisting cigarette smugglers on the N1.

This arrest followed the arrest of 19 other police officials for corruption in the Limpopo province during December 2014‚ Makgale said.

“The SAPS Morebeng member‚ Warrant Officer Peter Mathaka Magugumela‚ was arrested late last week . He appeared in the Sekgosese Regional Court on Monday and was released on R3‚000 bail. The case against him was remanded to 16 July 2015.”

 He added that in December last year‚ the National Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS)‚ General Riah Phiyega‚ had joined a special task team of members of Crime Intelligence and detectives investigating the involvement of the police in distributing illegal cigarettes.

“That operation led to the arrest of the 19 police officers‚ which consisted of six warrant officers and 13 constables‚ after an investigation that lasted almost two years. The members were involved in escorting vehicles carrying illegal cigarettes in exchange for money.

“Nine of the members were stationed at Morebeng‚ six at Maleboho‚ three at Makhado and one was attached to the Botlokwa Police Station. The latest arrest brings the number of members arrested at Morebeng to ten. Shortly after the arrest of the 19 they were suspended without pay and the same is applicable to the latest member taken into custody‚” Makgale said.

Intensive investigations were still continuing and more arrests in the province could not be ruled out‚ he said.

“Since these arrests took place six of the members have resigned from the SAPS‚ four were dismissed following departmental trials and a further nine will appear for departmental trials again during July.

“Also‚ in September last year‚ 22 members from the Welkom and surrounding areas were arrested after allegedly contravening some sections of the Precious Metals Act 37 of 2005‚ and defeating the administration of justice. They also face charges of theft‚ corruption and money laundering.

“During the operation‚ police seized gold to the value of R900‚000‚ mining equipment to the value of R100‚000 and 14 vehicles to the value of R4 million.

“While the criminal cases are still being heard in court‚ 20 members are suspended in terms of Regulation 13 (1) of the South African Police Service Disciplinary Regulation‚ 2006 with effect from 20 February 2015 and two members‚ Constable Josiah Themba Mdaka and Warrant Officer Thamsanqa Hendrik Djalivani resigned before December last year‚” Makgale said.

In this matter‚ there were 12 separate disciplinary cases‚ all still pending‚ with the next appearance on 15 July 2015.

“Our Personnel Management office has indicated that the disciplinary hearings will hopefully be finalised by the end of this month‚ if all goes according to the planned schedule‚” Makgale added.