Cape Crime Crisis Coalition wants report on alleged link between SAPS and gang, released

The Cape Crime Crisis Coalition (C4) has written to Western Cape Premier, Alan Winde, demanding the immediate release of a 2022 Western Cape Police Ombudsman report that allegedly exposes criminal gang infiltration in the provincial branch of the South African Police Service (SAPS).

The report was compiled by retired Major General Oswald Reddy more than three years ago, at the request of Premier Alan Winde, following a damning judgment by Western Cape High Court Judge Daniel Thulare in which collusion between gangs and the top management of the SAPS was exposed.

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Despite its completion, the report has never been made public, and C4 chairperson, Dr Llewellyn McMaster, said it noted Winde’s reason to protect the law emnforcement officers named in the report, but says its unacceptable.

‘’ We urge you to immediately release the full report or a redacted but substantive version thereof. While we acknowledge the principle of protecting individuals from unsubstantiated allegations, we must question whether this reason, in its current absolute form, is valid, proportionate, and ultimately in the public interest. The scale of the crisis on the Cape Flats—where communities endure daily terror, and where Judge Thulare’s 2022 judgement already confirmed systemic collusion—demands a more transparent approach’’

“The relentless shootings, brazen gang attacks and unchecked murders have turned our working-class communities into killing fields. Coupled with this is the reality that our law enforcement agencies are simply unable to deal with this crisis effectively or sustainably. And that is why the Cape Crime Crisis Coalition is now calling on the Premier to release this report,” said McMaster. 

 Premier Winde, however, defended his decision not to publish the findings. He said he had been in touch with Provincial Police Commissioner, Thembisile Patekile, former Police Minister Bheki Cele and Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis, as well as local and international academic and criminologists, to figure out the next steps after receiving the report. The conclusion from all of this, Winde said, pointed to the report remaining unpublicised. He said that he has taken other steps.

“[Academics and criminologists] suggested that we implement lifestyle audits amongst the top SAPS officials in the province. We, as a province, then made this offer both to General Patakile as well as the then police minister. We even said that we would pay for these lifestyle audits. This has again been iterated to the new acting Police Minister, Professor Cachalia, to say you know that we would help with the financial side of committing to lifestyle audits,” he said.

 While Winde maintains that his actions were guided by safety concerns and legal constraints, McMaster insists that Cape Flats communities “deserve no less than full transparency”.

“We are tired of political games between province, city and national. Whilst we cannot see any solutions and a clear plan in terms of fighting gangsterism and organised crime,” said McMaster.

 

Done By: MItchum George