Policing operations in the Western Cape will not be affected by the appearance of Lt Gen Lamoer in court

Pretoria, 17 April 2015: The National Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS), General Riah Phiyega, can assure the nation, particularly Western Cape communities, that policing in the province will not be affected by the appearance in court of Lieutenant General Arno Lamoer and three of his senior management team members today.

The Western Cape Provincial Commissioner and three others, Brigadiers Darius van der Ross, Kolindren Govender and Logambal Govender, appeared in the Goodwood Magistrates’ Court on charges relating to corruption this morning. Whilst the criminal processes are unfolding, so will the process in terms of the SAPS disciplinary code. Lieutenant General Lamoer and the brigadiers will, in accordance with the disciplinary code, be served with notices. Further announcements will be made in this regard in due course.

Lieutenant General Lamoer had already applied to take leave with effect from today. He appointed Major General Thembisile Patekile as the acting Provincial Commissioner. This acting arrangement will remain in place until further notice to allow time for the National Commissioner to consult with relevant stakeholders before any decision is made. Major General Phatekile will be assisted by three other Deputy Provincial Commissioners.

“Between Major General Patekile and the three other Deputies, they boast approximately 120 years of policing experience. We are confident that they will steer the ship in the right direction. All crime
prevention and investigation initiatives will continue uninterrupted in the Western Cape. We reaffirm our commitment to fighting crime and creating a safe society,” said General Phiyega. Police officials in the province are urged to intensify their efforts to make the Western Cape safer. The SAPS has taken note of speculation to the effect that today’s court appearance will have implications for the National Commissioner, General Phiyega. We would like to emphasise that an investigation was conducted and that the National Prosecuting Authority, after reviewing the matter, had already taken a decision not to prosecute General Phiyega. In a media statement released at the time, the SAPS indicated that the National Commissioner confirmed that she had not initiated a conversation with Lt Gen Lamoer, but that a conversation arose as a result of a question by a DA member of Parliament, to which the SAPS was obliged to draft a response.