Alan Winde
Premier Alan Winde is facing growing pressure to release a three‑year‑old report by the Western Cape Police Ombudsman that alleges gang infiltration of the province’s police service. Critics say the public deserves transparency and the time for secrecy is over.
Premier Alan Winde is under intense scrutiny as calls mount for the release of a three‑year‑old report by the Western Cape Police Ombudsman’s Office, which allegedly details links between gangs and the South African Police Service in the province.
The report, commissioned in 2022 following judicial findings by Judge Daniel Thulare, raised concerns that senior police management in the Western Cape may have been compromised by gang networks. Winde confirmed receipt of the document in November 2022 but has yet to make it public, drawing criticism from opposition parties and civil society groups.
The Democratic Alliance has accused the provincial government and SAPS of a disregard for transparency, highlighting that essential information about policing and crime trends has been withheld. Civil society coalition C4 has given Winde a deadline to release the report, warning that legal or parliamentary action could follow if the document remains unreleased.
Winde’s office has stated that the report contains sensitive information about officer safety and law enforcement operations, which makes its release delicate. City officials have been informed of general risks but are not implicated in the report.
