The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) in the Western Cape has expressed serious concern over a continued leadership vacuum in two key crime-fighting structures in the province.

The union said the posts of provincial head of Crime Intelligence and the Hawks (DPCI) provincial head remain vacant or without permanent leadership, hampering the province’s ability to combat organised and violent crime.

Western Cape Popcru spokesperson, Mluleki Mbhele, said: “This province continues to face one of the most severe crime burdens in the country. With deeply entrenched gang violence, drug trafficking, and a disturbing prevalence of violent crime, it is no coincidence that many Western Cape police stations consistently rank among the top contributors to national crime statistics. Yet, despite this reality, we are forced to ask: is policing in the Western Cape being taken seriously by those in power?”

The post of provincial head of Crime Intelligence has remained vacant since the dismissal of former boss Major-General Mzwandile Tiyo in 2024.

He was fired following a Section 34 inquiry into his fitness to hold office, after allegations surfaced that he had lost a laptop and a firearm while at a tavern in Mbekweni, Paarl, in 2022.

Tiyo allegedly used police resources to track down the suspected thieves and was accused of assaulting them.

He was later reinstated and encouraged to retire early; he left his office earlier this year.

Major General Mathipa Solomon Makgato is currently serving as the acting divisional commissioner of Crime Intelligence at the national level.

Meanwhile, the Hawks’ provincial head in the Western Cape has been redeployed to act in a senior role within National Crime Intelligence, leaving another key provincial position without permanent leadership.

Popcru stated that the failure to fill these positions extends beyond mere administrative delays and indicates systemic neglect.

“Intelligence-led policing cannot function effectively in the absence of stable, experienced leadership. Community safety is being compromised by indecision, bureaucracy, and a lack of urgency,” the union said.

Popcru called for the immediate filling of the Crime Intelligence post and the reinstatement of the Hawks provincial head to the Western Cape.

“These leadership roles are not ceremonial; they are essential to the operational capacity and strategic focus required to combat crime effectively in one of the most complex policing environments in the country.”

The union also urged the national police commissioner and the police ministry to prioritise the matter.

“Every day that these positions remain unfilled is another day lost in the fight against sophisticated criminal networks that continue to terrorise our communities,” said Mbhele.

“Popcru will continue to engage with the relevant authorities to ensure that the voices of our members and the communities they serve are not ignored. The Western Cape deserves competent, permanent leadership that understands the unique crime landscape of the province and is committed to acting decisively against it.”

At the time of publishing, the office of the national police commissioner had not responded to requests for comment.

mandilakhe.tshwete@inl.co.za

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