This week Premier Alan Winde received a progress report from Western Cape Police Ombud (WCPO) Major General (Ret.) Oswald Reddy on his investigation into alleged links between officials from the South African Police Service (SAPS) in the Western Cape and gangsters.

At the core of this issue are grave concerns that members of the SAPS in the province, among them senior officials, are colluding with gangs, to the detriment of the communities police are meant to serve.

The Ombud has informed the Premier that the probe is at an advanced stage. A team of investigators from the WCPO is considering the bundle of documents relating to the Western Cape High Court judgment which gave rise these disturbing claims. “I have been assured this matter is receiving the attention it deserves and will be finalised as soon as possible,” Premier Winde stressed.

The matter stems from a  judgment delivered last month in the Western Cape High Court which stated that there is evidence that top management structures of the SAPS in the province have been infiltrated by gang members. The Premier reiterated: “We must use all the resources available to us, such as the Police Ombud, to get to the bottom of this issue. These allegations horrify me, and we must get answers that will inform our next steps.”

The Premier asked, “Is there sufficient evidence around this matter to warrant establishing a Commission of Inquiry? We will consider our options once the WCPO investigation has been concluded.”

Provincial Police Oversight and Community Safety Minister Reagen Allen said, “We want to assure the residents of the Western Cape that we’ll do everything in our oversight role to address any form of collusion, corruption or criminal activity in the SAPS. The service is required to serve and protect us. This matter is highly upsetting, and we will not stand for it.”

Issued by Regan Thaw, Media Liaison Officer, Office of the Premier, 11 November 2022