A Judge’s Warning Confirmed: Calls for National Probe into WC Police-Gang Nexus

For three years, it was a report too dangerous to see the light of day. Now, its release has confirmed one of the most chilling allegations about crime-fighting in the Western Cape: that gangs have a seat at the table where the province’s top cops make their plans.

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde has finally released the long-awaited Police Ombudsman report, bowing to immense public pressure. Its findings are so severe that opposition parties are now demanding its contents become a central part of the national Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.

A Judge’s Explosive Accusation, Now Substantiated

The investigation was initiated after a bombshell ruling from Western Cape High Court Judge Daniel Thulare in 2022. He did not mince words, stating that evidence suggested “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… sits with his senior managers.”

The Ombudsman’s report has now confirmed this terrifying reality. It found that a complaint of unacceptable behaviour against the provincial commissioner and his senior management was “substantiated on a balance of probabilities.” This official language confirms a profound breach of security at the highest level of provincial law enforcement.

A Justice System Under Direct Threat

The consequences of this infiltration are not theoretical; they are lethal. The report lays out a grim picture of a compromised criminal justice system, where the lives of those fighting for justice are on the line.

“The safety of the current investigation team, witnesses, the Prosecutor, Magistrate, Judge and other officials… are at high risk,” the report states. It chillingly notes that since the arrest of 14 accused gang members, “three witnesses have already been killed.”

This is no longer just about corruption; it is about a direct and violent assault on the rule of law. The report urgently recommends threat assessments and witness protection for everyone involved in the case, a clear indication that the state cannot guarantee their safety through normal channels.

A Case for a National Inquiry

The findings are so systemic and grave that a provincial response seems insufficient. This is why opposition parties are arguing that the Madlanga Commission, a national-level inquiry already examining political meddling and corruption in law enforcement, must expand its scope.

The allegation that a notorious gang has deeply penetrated police leadership in South Africa’s most crime-ridden province is not a local issue. It is a national security crisis. The report confirms that the very institution meant to protect citizens is, in some cases, working for their predators. A full, national investigation is not just warranted; it is essential for restoring any semblance of public trust.

{Source: IOL}

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