DA MP Nicholas Gotsell claims a Western Cape police officer, who is said to have been dismissed, is still on duty at Athlone SAPS.
Gotsell said he made the discovery on Friday, 6 February.
In a social media post, Gotsell claims the constable has had several disciplinary transgressions since 2020. He had been found guilty of multiple offences since then.
“… including: assault common, crimen injuria, insubordination, making derogatory remarks, displaying disrespect towards his commander, late for duty, absent from duty, improper conduct, and unacceptable behaviour,” Gostell listed.
Gotsell said this information on the constable came to light in response to a parliamentary question, at which time he was informed that the constable in question was dismissed.
“He was handed a 1 month suspension without salary on 5 separate occasions and, on another, received a verbal warning. The reply under 1583 further states that: ‘It should be noted that the specified member was dismissed from the SAPS on 2025-12-10’”
Despite confirmation of his dismissal, Gotsell said he found the constable at the station, working in the “charge office”.
“A senior officer confirmed that it is indeed the same man parliamentary question 1583 says was dismissed,” said Gotsell.
Gotsell further alleges that the Western Cape Provincial Police Commissioner “continuously overturns the dismissals of crooked and ill-disciplined cops”.
He also questioned whether Parliament was misled and indicated that he intends to raise the matter when the Commissioner appears before the Select Committee on Security and Justice on 18 February.
“In the meantime, I am duty bound to report this lie to Parliament’s Ethics Committee,” said Gotsell
*The Western Cape SAPS and the office of Western Cape Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Thembisile Patekile, did not respond to SmileFM’s query by the time of publication. Their reply will be added to this article once received.
