WHILE the Anti-Gang Unit is under pressure to clamp down on gang warfare, the special force is still without a permanent leader. The unit was formed six years ago to tackle gangs in the Western Cape and topple bosses and kingpins in gang-infested areas.
But the unit has been plagued by a string of resignations, murders and culling of top leaders, raising concern about its effectiveness after its commander, Major-General Andre Lincoln, retired last year.
Lincoln stepped down from his post five months ago having served the SAPS for 39 years. Colonel Karl Wienand, who was made acting commander replaced him. Before joining the unit, Wienand was stationed at the Cape Town Central command centre.
Unit investigators have been tasked with probing the recent spate of murders in Manenberg and Khayelitsha. At least eight people were gunned down in Manenberg over a four-day period this month and Khayelitsha was hit by two mass murders days apart which left 11 people dead.
On Saturday, police said that a 35-year-old man was arrested in connection with the murder of six people on Sunday afternoon at the Enkanini informal settlement in Khayelitsha.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Novela Potelwa said the man would appear in court on Monday.
Speaking to Weekend Argus, a member explained that even though they were still doing their work, direction from a permanent leader was required.
“You do feel extra pressure since Major-General Lincoln’s retirement, especially because some good guys followed after him.
“You often don’t know where you stand. At the moment there’s a acting commander who gives directions; good enough, but an acting commander means that he can’t make a definite decision, or give a definite command because there are people with a higher ranking he has to approach and who must make the final decision.”
Lincoln’s departure followed lengthy battles with national police commissioner General Khehla Sitole, who was in the process of instituting disciplinary hearings against Lincoln over the murder of murdered AGU investigator Charl Kinnear in 2020.
Thursday marks Sitole’s the last day after the presidency announced a mutual decision was taken to terminate his contract. This came after mounting pressure for Sitole to step down amid criticism over the July unrest and the
Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) laid charges against Sitole for allegedly not co-operating with its investigation into the Kinnear matter.
With the focus on who will step into Sitole’s shoes come April 1, there are mounting calls for a permanent unit commander for the AGU.
Crime expert with the Institute for Security Studies Lizette Lancaster said five months was a long time for an acting post for a critical position.
“We have seen the fallout of poor leadership in general in South Africa. Therefore it is absolutely critical to have a permanent person in command of such a specialised unit,” she said. “These types of units need to act quickly and also investigate cases properly under proper oversight and command. They also work with so many other units, so there needs to be a leader who is regarded as independent and credible.”
Lancaster said having an acting commander was not enough and did not provide the required authority.
An AGU member concurred with Lancaster and explained that working in such a demanding and high pressure job, leadership was always needed. “I am not saying that our current commander is not doing a good job, what I’m saying is make the man permanent so that we can also be supported and directed.”