Statement by Premier Alan Winde and Minister Albert Fritz on the murder of Lieutenant Colonel Charl Kinnear
19 September 2020
Premier Alan Winde extends his deepest condolences to the family of Lieutenant-Colonel Charl Kinnear, who was killed outside of his home yesterday afternoon.
Lieutenant-Colonel Kinnear was a top detective with the police’s Anti-Gang Unit in the Western Cape. He was working on a number of high-profile cases involving some of the province’s top gang bosses.
Premier Winde said: “This is a very sad moment for Lieutenant-Colonel Kinnear’s family and friends, the police service, and for our province. This was a man committed to fighting against the highest and most insidious criminals in our communities, a man who put his life on the line to make us safer. That life has now been taken.”
“I am extremely disappointed that such a crime could have been committed. This fully underscores in my mind the shift needed in our police service. We need more police, more protection for our police, and more protection for our people. I call on the national government – to President Cyril Ramaphosa and the National Minister of Police Bheki Cele, to arrest the further decline of our police service by investing in its numbers, and in its institutional strengthening, without delay. We welcome the announcement by National Police Commissioner Khehla Sitole of a 72-hour activation plan under the leadership of the Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Yolisa Matakata. They must now work to swiftly arrest the perpetrators of this heinous crime, and ensure they are brought to justice. We do understand the difficulties, but all effort needs to be made now to overcome those difficulties and to bring about lasting positive change. Let Charl Kinnear’s life not be lost in vain.”