Community Safety
With reference to question 3 of Question Paper 28 of 22 September 2017:
Regarding each of the complaints received by the Western Cape Police Ombudsman in (a) 2015/16, (b) 2016/17 and (c) 2017 to date: (i) whether the complaint was investigated by the Office of the Western Cape Police Ombudsman; (ii) whether the complaint was not investigated by the Office of the Western Cape Police Ombudsman; and (iii) why the complaint was not investigated by the Office of the Western Cape Police Ombudsman?
(a)(i) Of the 316 complaints received during 2015/16, 259 were investigated
(ii) 57 were not investigated
(iii) All complaints are screened by the Western Cape Police Ombudsman (WCPO) Complaints Screening Committee to establish whether the complaint falls within their mandate in terms of the Act, and if so whether the complaint is not frivolous or vexatious.
If a matter is within their mandate but is frivolous or vexatious the complaint will not be investigated.
Furthermore, the complaints that are not investigated are:
- Complaints that are not within the WCPO’s mandate,
- Complaints that pre-dates the WCPO’s existence’
- Where a complaint is already being investigated by another institution, or
- Where there is insufficient information furnished by the complainant, such as: no response from the complainant when requested to furnish the necessary supporting documents (i.e.: a copy of an ID/ driver’s license; written mandate to lodge a complaint on behalf of another person); or to furnish more information to allow the Committee to categorise the complaint.
(b)(i) Of the 540 complaints received during 2016/17, 454 were investigated
(ii) 86 were not investigated
(iii) All complaints are screened by the Western Cape Police Ombudsman (WCPO) Complaints Screening Committee to establish whether the complaint falls within their mandate in terms of the Act, and if so whether the complaint is not frivolous or vexatious.
If a matter is within their mandate but is frivolous or vexatious the complaint will not be investigated.
Furthermore, the complaints that are not investigated are:
- Complaints that are not within the WCPO’s mandate,
- Complaints that pre-dates the WCPO’s existence’
- Where a complaint is already being investigated by another institution, or
- Where there is insufficient information furnished by the complainant, such as: no response from the complainant when requested to furnish the necessary supporting documents (i.e.: a copy of an ID/ driver’s license; written mandate to lodge a complaint on behalf of another person); or to furnish more information to allow the Committee to categorise the complaint.
(c)(i) Of the 236 complaints received during 2017/18 as at 22 September 2017, 210 were investigated
(ii) 24 were not investigated
(iii) All complaints are screened by the Western Cape Police Ombudsman (WCPO) Complaints Screening Committee to establish whether the complaint falls within their mandate in terms of the Act, and if so whether the complaint is not frivolous or vexatious.
If a matter is within their mandate but is frivolous or vexatious the complaint will not be investigated.
Furthermore, the complaints that are not investigated are:
- Complaints that are not within the WCPO’s mandate,
- Complaints that pre-dates the WCPO’s existence’
- Where a complaint is already being investigated by another institution, or
Where there is insufficient information furnished by the complainant, such as: no response from the complainant when requested to furnish the necessary supporting documents (i.e.: a copy of an ID/ driver’s license; written mandate to lodge a complaint on behalf of another person); or to furnish more information to allow the Committee to categorise the complaint.
