Union fury as anti gang cops spend festive season behind bars
The South African Policing Union (SAPU) has criticised the Athlone Magistrate’s Court for refusing bail to ten Western Cape Anti-Gang Unit officers.
The officers face charges including murder, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, kidnapping and torture, stemming from the death of alleged former gang member Wade Price while in police custody.
National spokesperson Lesiba Thobakgale said the union does not condone any form of criminal conduct and maintains that the officers remain innocent until proven guilty.
“The South African Policing Union (SAPU) is disappointed with the Athlone Magistrate Court’s decision not granting the Anti-Gang Unit members bail after they had been arrested and appeared before the court on 2025-12-23 on allegations of murder, defeating the ends of justice, torture, amongst others,” Thobakgale said.
“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 added that the union believes the officers are not a flight risk, as their residential addresses are known and they are employed by the State.
“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 also serves the same purpose, that the accused subject themselves before the courts as required”.
“We believe that the Court did not act correctly by denying the members bail, and we argue that, based on the reasons we have mentioned above about arrest and the granting of bail”.
Thobakgale also said that SAPU sympathises with the families of the officers, as well as their colleagues, who will see them remain in custody during the festive season.
“SAPU will explore legal means available to challenge the decision made by the Athlone Magistrate Court with this regard, also looking into approaching the higher Court on urgent basis in order to secure the bail of our members”
mthobisi.nozulela@iol.co.za
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