The Independent Policing Union of South Africa (IPUSA) has called for the urgent implementation of exit vetting for police officers, following the arrest of a former Special Task Force member in connection with a high-profile murder.
Former officer Matipandile Sotheni has been arrested for the alleged killing of former Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) officer and whistleblower Marius van der Merwe, also known as Witness D.
Van der Merwe was shot and killed outside his home in December last year, shortly after testifying before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.
Police believe Sotheni may have been hired to carry out the killing, raising concerns about the potential recruitment of former elite unit members by organised crime syndicates.
IPUSA General Secretary Mpho Kwinika said the case highlights the urgent need for stricter oversight of officers after they leave the service.
“IPUSA believes that what we call exit vetting needs to be instituted for each and every police officer who leaves the service,” Kwinika said.
He stressed that such measures are particularly critical for members of specialised units, given their advanced training and skills, including sniper capabilities.
Kwinika added that ongoing monitoring mechanisms should be introduced to track the activities and lifestyles of former officers, in an effort to prevent them from becoming involved in criminal networks.
The union said the proposed measures would help safeguard the integrity of law enforcement and reduce the risk of highly trained individuals being exploited by organised crime.