ANC: Winde & WC govt must share responsibility for escalating gang violence in province

The African National Congress (ANC) in the Western Cape asserts that Premier Alan Winde and his provincial government must share responsibility for the escalating gang violence in the Cape.

The party made its comments in the provincial legislature on Thursday following the release of the provincial police ombudsman's report.

In 2022, a significant ruling by Western Cape High Court Judge Daniel Thulare suggested that members of the 28s gang may have influenced senior police officials in the province.

The ombudsman's report, which investigated these allegations, found that claims of unacceptable conduct against a provincial police commissioner and his senior management were likely true.

Premier Alan Winde stated that his government had repeatedly and unsuccessfully pushed the South African Police Service (SAPS) and its watchdog, the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID),to investigate the allegations.

Winde highlighted that requests for updates on the investigations, as well as for lifestyle audits of the implicated police officials, were also denied.

However, ANC leader in the provincial legislature, Khalid Sayed, argued that for the premier to be serious about confronting organised crime, he must also address his government’s own shortcomings in tackling the root causes of the violence.

Sayed said: "Speaker, the premier cites the Thulare judgment and the alleged infiltration of SAPS by gangs. Those are indeed serious allegations, and we agree that they demand thorough investigation. But we must also be honest, the selective outrage of this executive is politically convenient."

Winde concluded by stating that he would wait for the outcomes of the police and IPID's investigations, as recommended by the ombudsman, efore deciding on the next steps.

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