WHILE pressure continues to mount on Premier Alan Winde to release a report into alleged links between SAPS and gangs, the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) confirmed having launched an investigation into the extent of infiltration.
“IPID has opened a case following the (Western Cape) Ombudsman’ report in 2022. Our investigation is ongoing and the focus of our investigation is at establishing the extent of the infiltration,” said Ipid spokesperson Lizzy Suping.
The report, already three years old, was handed to Winde by the Western Cape Police Ombudsman in 2022.
The DA-led government initiated the investigation after a scathing judgment by Western Cape High Court judge Daniel Thulare.
Part of that judgment involving members of the notorious criminal gangs, read: “The evidence suggests not only a capture of some lower-ranking officers in the SAPS. The evidence suggests that the senior management of the SAPS in the province has been penetrated to the extent that the 28 gang has access to the table where the Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in the Western Cape sits with his senior managers and lead them in the study of crime, develop crime prevention strategies and decide on tactics and approach to the safety and security of inhabitants of the Western cape. This includes penetration of and access to the sanctity of the reports by specialised units like the Anti-Gang Unit and Crime Intelligence, to the Provincial Commissioner.”
Lambasting then Police Minister Bheki Cele’s inaction at the time, Winde moved to launch an investigation to answer one key question, he said: “Is there sufficient evidence and concern to warrant establishing a Commission of Inquiry to probe serious allegations of links between gangs and members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) in the province – among them senior officials?”
Upon receiving the report, Winde said he would not make it public despite calls from activists who also suggested that the Premier redact names if necessary.
The Cape Crime Crisis Coalition (C4) had given the premier until Friday to release the report, which he had initiated but refused to make public.
His office did not respond to questions on Sunday on when the report would be made public.
C4 chairperson, Dr Llewellyn MacMaster on Sunday confirmed he had not yet received the report but Winde had said “next week in interviews”.
Despite ignoring our questions on several occasions, Winde told the SABC in an interview on Friday that the report was with his legal team so it could be redacted.
“I asked what is it that can I do? Obviously, the ombudsmen is not able to investigate the links and gangs themselves, but I asked him to investigate and give me what I can do to deal with this issue. It came back with two real findings, the biggest power I have is a commission of inquiry.
“A number of witnesses had been killed and a number of police officers and law enforcement officers involved in the arrest and uncovering this linkage between the gangs and the police and that their lives would be in danger and that needs to be warned.”
Winde confirmed the report had not been classified but had decided not to release citing risks to police and law enforcement officers.
“There was no reason to release it after that, the real investigation is by Ipid and SAPS themselves… investigating whether there is collusion between the (SAPS) and 28s gang.”
“This is a document saying what are my powers, what can I do. I got no reason to not make it available. Our legal team is now looking at it, and as soon as that’s done, we’ll make it available. I presume by next week we’ll be able to do that,” he said.
Weighing in on the matter, former Western Cape Police Commissioner Dr Lennit Max said the delayed release of the report was surprising, “given the public’s interest in understanding the ombudsman’s findings”.
“Transparency is key in situations like this, and it’s hoped the report will shed more light on the matter soon.”
Max said allegations of police involvement with gangs and corruption were damaging to community trust.
“Unfortunately, these concerns seem to be reflected in the low public trust ratings for the police, which dropped from 27% in 2021 to 22% in 2024. It’s unclear if Judge Thulare’s remarks prompted police investigations, but the police’s Anti-Corruption unit, led by Lt-Col Amon, is actively working to investigate corruption allegations against officers, with several successful prosecutions to their credit,” Max said.
Former Western Cape head of police detectives, Jeremy Vearey, said whether or not the report’s findings would help or harm the fight against crime, “we can’t say because we don’t know what is in it”.
“The report can be released but what difference and what value it’s going to add is determined by what is in it,” Vearey said.
Cape Times
