Premier Winde pushes for lifestyle audits of top WC cops

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde has renewed his push for the national government to authorise lifestyle audits for senior SAPS officers implicated in a Police Ombudsman report confirming evidence of gang infiltration of SAPS in the province.

The findings of the report echoed a 2022 Western Cape High Court judgment, which warned that elements of the notorious 28s gang had penetrated senior police management.

Winde says, to date, SAPS has made no firm commitment to proceed with the audits.

"We had 12 letters backwards and forwards without any positive response, it's now at 13, because I'd written to the new minister."

He says the province is prepared to pay for the process to ensure it happens quickly and transparently.

"We know that they're very tight with their funding; they don't have enough."

He says Police Minister Firoz Cachalia recently sent him a WhatsApp, confirming he would speak to Winde about the audits when he visits Cape Town next month.

In the meantime, he says he will take an opportunity in cabinet today (Wednesday) to put the issue of lifestyle audits to Western Cape police commissioner Thembisile Patekile.

"Yeah, we're still pushing," says Winde.

He warns that trust in SAPS is at stake as long as the allegations remain untested.

To listen to Western Cape Premier Alan Winde in conversation with CapeTalk's John Maytham, click below: