Police officer on ‘payrolls of drug lords’

High ranking police officers are on the payrolls of drug lords and underworld figures in the Western Cape.

Community safety MEC Dan Plato said in the Cape Times newspaper today night club owners, and others who were concerned about the situation, were too afraid to contact the police and told him this was because police officers were involved with those they wanted to lodge complaints against.

“They’ve got no trust in the police because there are too many officers on (crime bosses’) payrolls,” he said.

The names and ranks of officers allegedly receiving bribes were known and Plato was taking the matter up with police management.

Plato made the accusations based on information he had been gathering about the city’s lucrative and notorious bouncer industry, which was now dominated by a new company – Specialised Protection Services (SPS).

SPS, allegedly backed by businessmen police say are linked to organised crime, was set up after the murder of underworld figure Cyril Beeka in March.

It is an amalgamation of two companies, one previously run by Beeka.

In recent weeks a number of city club owners had contacted Plato complaining that they were being intimidated and threatened by individuals trying to force them to use particular bouncers.

Plato was planning to set up a separate phone line specifically for those feeling intimidated by security company bosses to call anonymously.

- SAPA