Festive season overshadowed by court decision affecting Western Cape anti-gang officers. Picture Credit: Stockcake
By Aisha Zardad
Western Cape – The South African Policing Union (SAPU) has expressed strong dissatisfaction with the Athlone Magistrate’s Court following its decision to deny bail to ten members of the Western Cape Anti-Gang Unit, who now face spending the festive season in custody.
The officers are facing a range of serious charges, including murder, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, kidnapping and torture. The charges stem from the death of Wade Price, an alleged former gang member who died while in police custody earlier this year.
SAPU national spokesperson Lesiba Thobakgale said the union was disappointed by the court’s decision, stressing that while the charges are serious, the officers should still be afforded their constitutional rights.
“The South African Policing Union is disappointed with the Athlone Magistrate’s Court’s decision not granting the Anti-Gang Unit members bail after they appeared before court on December 23 on allegations including murder, defeating the ends of justice and torture,” Thobakgale said.
He emphasised that SAPU does not condone criminal behaviour by law enforcement officials or members of the public, but maintained that the officers are innocent until proven guilty.
“It must be clear that as a trade union, we do not condone any form of criminality committed by law enforcement officers or by members of the public, as we subscribe to the notion that everyone is innocent until proven guilty,” he said.
Thobakgale further argued that the union believes the accused officers do not pose a flight risk, noting that their residential addresses are known and that they are employed by the State. He added that the purpose of arrest and bail is primarily to ensure that accused persons appear before court when required.
“It is also crucial to point out that the purpose of arrest is to secure the attendance of the accused before the court, and bail serves the same purpose, that the accused subject themselves before the courts as required,” he said.
According to SAPU, the court failed to properly consider these factors when making its decision to deny bail. The union has indicated that it intends to challenge the ruling through legal channels, including the possibility of approaching a higher court on an urgent basis.
“We believe that the court did not act correctly by denying the members bail, based on the reasons we have mentioned,” Thobakgale said.
He also expressed sympathy for the families of the accused officers, as well as their colleagues, who will see them remain in custody during a period traditionally associated with family gatherings and rest.
“SАПU sympathises with the families of our members and their colleagues, who will see them remain in custody during the festive season,” he said, adding that the union would continue to pursue legal avenues to secure their release.
The case has drawn significant public attention, highlighting ongoing tensions between efforts to combat organised gang crime and the accountability of law enforcement officials. Court proceedings in the matter are expected to continue in the coming weeks.
