Viewfinder’s Police Accountability Tracker is an interface to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate's (IPID) database of more than 47,000 complaints registered against the police between April 2012 and March 2020. Users can use the filters to home in on any police station for an overview of cases registered there. Users can also locate any individual case for a "progress report", as at March 2020. The data demonstrates that police officers implicated in violent crimes routinely escape accountability.
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After sustained criticism in Parliament this year, the South African Police Service (SAPS) has issued a circular to call out its commanders for their “inaction” and “reluctance” when officers under their command are implicated in serious crimes. Issued on 8 October, the circular warns that police supervisors who fail to act “promptly” in such cases
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In January 2020, Athlone police Sergeant Giovanni Gabriels led a team of constables in a joint operation with the army. At the time, he already had several watchdog findings for assault against him, and he was on a final written warning. Days after the operation, one of the men arrested, 36-year-old Adam Isaacs, died in
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The South African Police Service (SAPS) has found Athlone station commander Colonel Mark Adonis guilty of misconduct for failing to act on torture and murder allegations against officers on his staff. He was given a “verbal warning”, according to former police commissioner General Khehla Sitole, who was responding to a parliamentary question. A conviction of
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Policemen have been accused of nearly 1,000 rapes since 2012. Many of these suspects stand accused of abusing the authority of their positions to aid them in these crimes, a new investigation by Viewfinder has found. Yet, police management rarely disciplines or dismisses the officers involved. On the afternoon of 6 June 2014, 36-year-old Ermelo
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On 1 April 2020, Ishmael Gama was reportedly tortured and killed by police officers in Lenasia, south of Johannesburg. More than a year after his death, and months after the police watchdog implicated eight officers in murder, police management has not acted. But, this is not an unusual scenario. A new Viewfinder analysis of police
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A mural in Eldorado Park which memorialises Nathaniel Julies Next month it will be one year since 16-year-old Nathaniel Julies was killed in Eldorado Park. Three police officers, charged variously with murder and accessory to murder, are due to stand trial for Julies’ killing later this year. Julies’ killing sparked protests in Eldorado Park, which
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During the first week of Covid-19 lockdown last year, Ishmael Gama died in custody at Lenasia police station. In March, the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) recommended that police management discipline eight officers implicated in Gama’s torture and killing. Months later, the police are yet to do so. Gama’s case is typical in Gauteng, where
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Thank you all for your vote of confidence! Delighted to announce that I have joined @viewfinderjourn as operations manager. ☺️ #accountabilityjournalism #impactediting https://twitter.com/tcmallinson/status/1521397145592635392
I have some personal news… Would you like me to share it?
Honoured to have journalist Daneel Knoetze named as the recipient of the @Gatefieldco @PJPAlive People Journalist for Africa award for his #AboveTheLaw investigation. Congratulations too @berhe_lucy @mrmacaronii
Meet the winners of the 2021 @Gatefieldco People Journalism Prize for Africa.
- People Journalist for Africa @viewfinderjourn
- People Journalist for Informed Commentary @berhe_lucy
- People Newsmaker for Social Justice @mrmacaronii
http://gatefield.co/gatefields-people-journalism-prize-for-africa-2021-winners/
