Latest news with #PollyBoshielo
IOL News
15-07-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Polly Boshielo: ‘I can't lie, morale is low' as SAPS faces leadership shake-up
Police deputy minister, Polly Boshielo, said the morale is low after Minister Senzo Mchunu was put on special leave. Image: SAPS Despite explaining why she can't act as the Police Minister, Polly Boshielo said motivation and a positive attitude at work are low, especially now that Minister Senzo Mchunu is on special leave. The appointment of Professor Firoz Cachalia by President Cyril Ramaphosa as acting minister has been met with mixed emotions. This comes after allegations by KZN Police Commissioner Lt-Gen. Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi accused Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and Deputy Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya of colluding with criminals. In an interview with SA FM, Boshielo said they were waiting for Cachalia to report to the office so that work could commence. "Yes, we have spoken to our staff to say that not everything is out of hand, they must focus on work and help our people... I cannot lie to you, the morale is a little bit low because we worked very well with the minister. "As you know, you would see us working together because we were showing each other how best we could turn the police service into a better institution," she said. Sharing light on why Cachalia was put in Mchunu's seat, Boshielo said in terms of the law, the deputy minister can't be appointed as acting minister unless there is a reshuffle. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading "In terms of what is happening in the department, everything is going as normal," she stated. In South Africa, deputy ministers are not eligible to be appointed as acting ministers due to constitutional and legal limitations. This position is clearly outlined in the Constitution. According to Section 93, deputy ministers are appointed to assist ministers but do not possess executive authority independently. When a minister is absent or the position becomes vacant, only a member of the cabinet may be appointed by the president to act in that role, in accordance with Section 98 of the Constitution. IOL Politics
The Citizen
08-07-2025
- The Citizen
‘No moral standing': Saps must act tough on GBVF officers
Critics say police culture enables abuse, and demand tougher sentences for Saps officers who commit GBVF. The South African Police Service (Saps) must deal harshly with its members involved in gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), according to experts. The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) recently stated that during the 2024-2025 financial year, 92 rape cases involving police officers were finalised. This resulted in 21 departmental convictions and 11 criminal convictions. Deputy Minister of Police Dr Polly Boshielo said: 'By the president's declaration that GBVF constitutes a national crisis, it will continue to be prioritised. A zero-tolerance approach will be adopted. Zero tolerance for GBVF in Saps – deputy minister 'More investigators will be up-skilled in the investigation of sexual offences to decrease GBVF-related cases in the Saps. 'Our officers are committed to ensuring they uphold the rule of law and in instances where they are not, Ipid must exercise its legislative mandate.' ALSO READ: Withdrawn GBV cases allow 'perpetrators to evade justice', hears portfolio committee Saps has enlisted the expertise of retired investigators to contribute to reducing its backlog, she added. A budget of R844.5 million has been allocated to the investigation and provincial coordination programme over three years. 'This initiative will focus on the investigation of backlog cases in terms of Section 28(1)(a)(h) of the Ipid Act, which includes death in police custody, death as a result of police action, rape by a police officer, corruption and related crimes.' In-house forensic investigation capability crucial She said an in-house forensic investigation capability was also crucial for improving the quality of investigations. This includes the recruitment of financial data analysts, cyber forensic experts and crime analysts and the procurement of a forensic electronic system. ALSO READ: Less than 25% of Gauteng police stations have dedicated toilets for GBV victims Brenda Madumise-Pajibo, director of the feminist organisation Wise4Afrika, called on Saps' management and other relevant authorities to deal harshly with the perpetrators in the police. 'We have said consistently that law enforcement officers are contaminated and are highly compromised in matters of sexual violence and domestic violence. They have no moral standing to uphold the rule of law.' Saps code of conduct ignored Witness Maluleke, a criminologist at the University of Limpopo, said the Saps code of conduct was ignored. 'They continue breaking the same laws due to power dynamics. Instead of protecting victims of rape, they re-victimise them. They should be heavily sentenced,' he said.
News24
10-06-2025
- News24
Man, 39, arrested for murder of 14-year-old Likhona Fose in Roodepoort
A 39-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the murder of 14-year-old Likhona Fose, whose half-naked and mutilated body was discovered on a field in Durban Deep, Roodepoort, at the beginning of June. The teenager disappeared on 31 May in Braamfischerville, only to be found lifeless by a passerby the following day. Police spokesperson Mavela Masondo said the suspect was taken in for questioning on Monday and was subsequently linked to the teenager's murder. He was formally charged with murder on Tuesday. 'The suspect is expected to appear in the Roodepoort Magistrate's Court on Wednesday, 11 June 2025. The police's Occult Unit has been working diligently to find the perpetrators following the gruesome murder of the 14-year-old,' added Masondo. Deputy Police Minister Polly Boshielo previously suggested Likhona could have been targeted because of her sexuality or for muthi-related reasons. Masondo said more arrests could not be ruled out.
Eyewitness News
02-06-2025
- Eyewitness News
Deputy ministers in the police and youth ministries will visit Lukhona Fose's home
JOHANNESBURG - Deputy Police Minister Polly Boshielo and Deputy Minister of Women and Youth Steve Letseke are set to visit the family of 14-year-old Lukhona Fose in Roodepoort on Monday, following the gruesome discovery of her mutilated body in the area. Fose was reported missing by her family over the weekend when she did not return home. It's understood she was last seen with a group of friends the day she vanished. Her body was found in a veld not far from her home a day later a discovery that has angered the community. ALSO READ: Likhona Fosa's family says community last saw her with friends on day she vanished Authorities have not yet confirmed the cause of the 14-year-old's death, and an autopsy is expected to be conducted this week. Her family says she was found naked from the waist down, with cuts on both her upper and lower body. Her uncle, Mthobeli Fose, is calling for justice to be served. "We are deeply hurt by the passing of Lukhona. She was killed brutally; she was so young, and we don't know who did this. We want the police to find these people. We want to know who did it." This latest incident comes as the country observes Child Protection Week.
eNCA
24-05-2025
- Politics
- eNCA
GBVF awareness march in Thohoyandou
POLOKWANE - Deputy Police Minister, Polly Boshielo, led a march against Gender-Based Violence and Femicide in Thohoyandou, Limpopo. Thousands of people joined the march and later attended a community engagement with Boshielo and other government officials. WATCH | Crime stats | GBV cases rise Thohoyandou is one of the areas plagued by high levels of GBV and femicide in the country.
