Case docket theft a concern for Limpopo police | Review

POLOKWANE – A Limpopo police report has revealed a troubling trend: the theft of case dockets from state vehicles parked by investigating officers in Polokwane and surrounding areas.

This issue has severely impacted ongoing investigations and, in some cases, led to the closure of cases, particularly when information was not properly copied or digitised.

This problem has persisted from 2018/19 until December 2023, according to the DA. Last month, following a DA-led inquiry, Police Minister Senzo Mchunu announced that 68.75% of dockets stolen from police stations were related to rape and sexual assault cases, all of which occurred in Limpopo.

In a statement responding to the report, the DA raised concerns about the effectiveness of docket management and the safety protocols surrounding case files.

However, during the release of Limpopo’s April-June crime statistics last Tuesday, provincial police commissioner Lt Gen Thembi Hadebe clarified that most dockets were stolen not from police stations but from vehicles parked by investigating officers at various locations. She cited three incidents in Polokwane where dockets were stolen from vehicles while officers carried out their duties.

Hadebe explained that officers often take dockets home to work on them, making them vulnerable to theft. Theft from vehicles, which has seen a significant rise since 2020, affects not only citizens but police officers as well.

Despite a digital docket recovery system in place, the Polokwane Police Station ranks eighth nationally for the highest number of thefts from motor vehicles, with 204 cases reported between April and June this year – 36 more than the same period last year. Polokwane also has the highest number of such cases in Limpopo.

Hadebe reassured the public that dockets are scanned and duplicated, allowing investigations to continue. She confirmed that many stolen dockets were linked to the family violence, child protection, and sexual offences unit, particularly cases of rape and sexual assault.

She recounted specific instances: in Polokwane, an officer’s car was broken into while they were in a shop, and the dockets were stolen. In Lebowakgomo, two officers left dockets in their cars while on standby overnight. Thieves broke into their vehicles, stealing the documents along with personal belongings.

Hadebe noted that fingerprints have been lifted in several cases, and investigations to apprehend the perpetrators are ongoing, stating, “even if it is not today.”