MADLANGA MUST NOW PROBE WC COP-GANG LINKS

Ombudsman flags risks to the entire criminal justice system in long awaited report

- NICOLA DANIELS

THE Western Cape Police Ombudsman report into alleged gang infiltration of provincial SAPS should form part of the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry’s terms of reference, according to opposition parties in the provincial legislature.

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde finally released the long-awaited report yesterday following mounting pressure, having kept it away from the public for three years.

Winde initiated the investigation after Western Cape High Court judge, Daniel Thulare’s raised the alarm in a scathing 2022 ruling, saying: “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”.

In the report, the Ombudsman concluded that a complaint of unacceptable behaviour against the provincial commissioner, and his senior management was found to be “substantiated on a balance of probabilities” The Ombudsman noted that there were risks to the entire criminal justice system.

“The safety of the current investigation team, witnesses, the Prosecutor, Magistrate, Judge and other officials involved in the prosecution of the 28 Mobster gang are at high risk. Since the arrest of the 14 accused, three witnesses have already been killed?” read the report with names redacted.