COPS LET OFF THE HOOK

WESTERN Cape police commissioner Lieutenant-General Thembisile Patekile has let 17 cops off the hook. 

The findings were revealed in Parliament last week, throwing a harsh light on the region’s top cop after he overturned dismissal rulings for officers nailed for serious misconduct  

These include a sergeant convicted in a criminal court, who was kept in the service with only a one-month suspension; a captain who assaulted a female and a club owner, whose dismissal was reduced to a written warning. 

In addition, multiple officers who illegally handed over police exhibits, whose dismissals were replaced with final written warnings.

In Parliament, Democratic Alliance MP Nicholas Gotsell questioned Patekile on how many cops were fired after disciplinary hearings only to have their dismissals overturned and their punishments cut to lighter sanctions, even after being found guilty.

In a written response, Patekile revealed that 17 officials had dismissals rescinded to a final written warning or a few months suspension without pay between 1 January 2015 and 31 May 2025.

Gotsell said in a statement that Patekile’s actions have weakened discipline within the police ranks, as well as adding that 40 more corrupt cops were reinstated nationwide in the same period.

Gotsell said: “The absence of a national strategy, combined with a provincial leadership that enables lawlessness within its own ranks, leaves the Western Cape utterly compromised in the fight against organised crime.“

“This is not an isolated problem, but a systemic failure. 

“Most shockingly, Patekile reinstated an officer found guilty of fraud after selling police dockets to the public, justifying it by claiming that the employment relationship had ‘not irretrievably broken down.’

“These decisions reflect a disturbing tolerance for corruption and criminality within SAPS ranks and directly undermine any attempt to restore discipline or rebuild public trust.”

Gotsell said that the DA is calling for the urgent tabling of the SAPS Amendment Bill in Parliament to address the most “dangerous failures in policing.”

This includes stripping provincial and divisional commissioners of their power to overturn dismissal decisions and protect convicted officers from accountability.

Gotsell added: The SAPS Amendment Bill must be brought to Parliament without delay to strip provincial commissioners of their unchecked power to vary or reverse dismissals and create independent disciplinary oversight boards.

“Until SAPS leadership stops protecting criminals and starts protecting the public, no gang strategy, no deployment and no reform plan will ever succeed.”