President Cyril Ramaphosa and Minister Bheki Cele launch National Anti-Gang Unit, 2 Nov 2018. Image: GCIS.
Gang Capture: Western Cape to fund lifestyle audits of top police officials
A report looking into allegations of gang capture in the Western Cape has been completed. Winde outlined his next steps in Thursday’s SOPA.
President Cyril Ramaphosa and Minister Bheki Cele launch National Anti-Gang Unit, 2 Nov 2018. Image: GCIS.
Western Cape Premier Alan Winde initiated an investigation into the links between police top brass and gangs in the Western Cape in October 2022. In his State of the Province Address (SOPA) on Thursday, the Premier unveiled his next steps.
READ: Winde investigates whether 28s gang and ‘senior’ Cape Town cops are in cahoots
WINDE SAYS WESTERN CAPE WILL FUND POLICE LIFESTYLE AUDITS
Winde tasked Western Cape police ombud, Retired Major-General Oswald Reddy, with the investigation after High Court Judge Daniel Thulare said evidence suggests gangsters – specifically the 28s gang – have infiltrated the top management structures of the Western Cape SAPS in a judgement delivered on 17 October 2022.
Thulare was handling the bail appeal application of an alleged leader of the 28s Mobster Gang and another appellant. He denied the appeal.
As previously reported, the most damning part of the judgement stated that senior police management in the province has been captured to such an extent “that the 28s gang has access to the table where the Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in the Western Cape sits with his senior managers….”
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In his speech on Thursday, Winde revealed that the Ombud’s report into the matter had been finalised. He said Thulare’s judgement confirms what many members of the public have long suspected.
Winde initially wanted a commission of inquiry to be established to look into the matter. However, he said Reddy said it would be improper to expect people to testify publicly about their knowledge of gangsters in their communities.
The Premier outlined the two “key steps” he would take next: establishing an expert panel and funding lifestyle audits for police top brass in the Western Cape.
“I am now in the process of establishing a panel of eminent persons to make specific recommendations as to how we should respond to this cancer which has infected so much of our policing.
“…as a start to ensure that our crime-fighting leadership is untarnished by the proceeds of crime, the provincial government will be funding lifestyle audits of the top brass involved in crime-fighting in this province,” said Winde.
Winde added that he believes these lifestyle audits will be an essential part of the province’s police oversight duty.
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