Third Escape From Police Cells in Under a Month

Dear Editor

The Democratic Alliance (DA) condemns yet another detainee escape from SAPS custody, the third in less than a month, following the confirmation that 17-year-old Ryan Manuel escaped from the Bellville SAPS cells before the court had even begun. This comes just days after a convicted rapist escaped from Helderstroom Maximum Prison, and follows the Wynberg and Strand “escapes” that SAPS has still failed to explain.

Dangerous criminals are repeatedly walking out of SAPS holding cells and the Provincial Police Commissioner, Lt Gen Thembisile Patekile, is doing absolutely nothing to reassure the public that SAPS has the situation under control.

Worse still, he has not acknowledged a single letter, nor provided any report, explanation or response to Parliament – despite being copied to correspondence sent directly via the Chairperson of the Select Committee on Security and Justice.

This silence is unacceptable, irresponsible and a direct insult to Parliament’s constitutional oversight role, especially amidst soaring crime figures on the Cape Flats.

These incidents raise the gravest questions:

1. Are these truly escapes, or are they inside jobs?
2. How does a 17-year-old theft suspect “escape” from a high-security Bellville court holding cell – a precinct designed to detain hundreds of violent offenders daily?
3. Why have there now been three escapes from SAPS custody without a single public explanation, suspension or consequence?

This all happens under a Provincial Commissioner who has confirmed that he overturns the dismissals of crooked cops, even those found guilty of serious misconduct or criminal offences, under the auspices that the relationship between them and the SAPS has not “broken down irretrievably”. This culture of impunity has created an environment where some officers believe they can act without consequence – and the results are now visible for all to see.

Lt Gen Patekile recently dismissed these concerns as “TikTok issues”. But the only ticking clock here is the countdown on his tenure as Provincial Commissioner. If he cannot secure SAPS holding cells, respond to Parliament, discipline corrupt officers or protect vulnerable communities, then he is unfit for office.

At a time when the Western Cape is experiencing deadly spikes in violent crime, SAPS should be keeping dangerous suspects behind bars until a court has pronounced on their suitability to be outside – not releasing them back into the same communities they terrorise.

The DA has formally written to the Chairperson of the Select Committee on Security and Justice requesting that Lt Genl Patekile be summoned before the end of the year to account for:

1. The Wynberg, Strand and Bellville escapes;
2. The systemic collapse in SAPS discipline and cell-block security; and
3. The measures being implemented to prevent further security breaches.

Communities living in fear deserve answers – now.

Regards

Nicholas Gotsell MP
DA NCOP Member on Security & Justice