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When Police Are Accused: 11 Anti-Gang Unit Officers Arrested
When the badge ends up in the dock
In communities like Manenberg, where gunfire and gang violence have long shaped daily life, the Anti-Gang Unit was meant to represent protection and order. This week, that image took a heavy knock after the arrest of 11 serving members of the unit on some of the most serious charges possible.
The arrests have sent ripples far beyond the courtroom. They have reopened old wounds about policing in gang-affected areas and raised uncomfortable questions about how power is exercised when officers are meant to uphold the law.
What the officers are accused of
According to the Western Cape prosecuting authority, the 11 officers face charges that include murder, kidnapping, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and torture. The case centres on the alleged abduction, interrogation, and killing of a Manenberg man, described in court as alleged gangster Wade Price.
The incident is said to have unfolded after a shooting outside the Athlone Magistrate’s Court in late November. Price was allegedly taken in for questioning and later died on 4 December. His friends were also allegedly assaulted during the same interrogation.
Because of a court order, the identities of the officers have not been made public.
Bail battles and a firm prosecutorial stance
Three of the accused appeared in the Athlone Magistrate’s Court earlier this week for formal bail proceedings. The remaining eight are expected to follow on Thursday, 19 December.
Western Cape Director of Public Prosecutions Nicolette Bell made it clear that her office is treating the matter with gravity. She confirmed that bail is being opposed at this stage, citing the seriousness of the allegations and the need to protect the integrity of the investigation.
Bell stressed that police officers are trusted to act within the law and that anyone arrested should be safe while in SAPS custody. In this case, she said, the evidence before her office suggests that due process was not followed.
Her comments have resonated strongly in a province where allegations of police abuse are never far from public memory.
SAPS response and operational impact
Provincial Police Commissioner Thembisile Patekile acknowledged the discomfort around seeing officers in the dock but emphasised that the matter is now before the courts and under investigation by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate.
Patekile said SAPS would not interfere with the legal process and confirmed that support for the arrested officers is limited to formal channels such as applications for legal representation.
On the ground, policing continues. SAPS has ring-fenced 50 members to be deployed to the South African Police Service Anti-Gang Unit straight after training. Interviews and medical assessments are already underway, an indication that authorities are keen to keep pressure on organised crime despite the scandal.
Public reaction and a deeper reckoning
On social media and in community forums, reactions have been mixed. Some residents express anger and betrayal, arguing that communities already living under fear cannot afford rogue policing. Others caution against rushing to judgement, insisting that the officers are entitled to the same legal protections as anyone else.
What is clear is that this case has struck a nerve. In areas like Manenberg, trust between police and residents is fragile and easily broken. Allegations of torture and murder by officers tasked with fighting gangs risk undoing years of relationship-building.
Why this case matters beyond one courtroom
This is not just a criminal case. It is a test of accountability. It forces a national conversation about how specialised units operate, how oversight works in practice, and what happens when those entrusted with power are accused of abusing it.
As the bail hearings unfold and investigations continue, many South Africans will be watching closely. The outcome could shape how policing is viewed in gang-ravaged communities for years to come.
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Source: IOL
Featured Image: Voice of the Cape
