Cape Town Metro Police under fire over unauthorised drills with US Marines

Consultations are underway across all spheres of government following a controversial fitness drill involving City of Cape Town metro police cadets and members of the US Marines.

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) confirmed to Eyewitness News that officials are working to establish the full details of the exercise, which took place at Muizenberg Beach.

While the City maintains the event was a routine training session, the involvement of a foreign military unit has triggered a wave of backlash from the public, political parties, and civic organisations.

The City of Cape Town insists the session was a routine fitness activity aimed at improving policing skills. Officials stated that the interaction was informal and conducted at no cost, noting that the US Marines involved are currently stationed at their consulate in Cape Town.

Safety and Security MMC JP Smith maintained that the engagement was purely a physical exercise, intended to give local officers exposure to marine-style training drills.

Despite the City's explanation, critics argue the drill bypassed essential protocols. The GOOD Party is among those questioning the legality of the session, warning that conducting drills with a foreign military unit may have fallen outside South Africa’s legislative framework.

Furthermore, People Against Gangsterism and Drugs (PAGAD) raised concerns over the presence of foreign troops on local soil, describing the involvement of US military personnel as a potential threat to national sovereignty.

"The municipality still has questions to answer regarding whether the necessary clearance was obtained from the National Police Commissioner or the Intelligence Minister." — Eldred de Klerk, Security Expert.

As the fallout continues, government officials are scrutinising whether the City overstepped its jurisdiction. The primary focus of the probe remains on whether the proper diplomatic and security channels were bypassed before the "informal" beach exercise commenced.