CAPE TOWN – Eleven Western Cape Anti-Gang Unit members facing serious criminal charges, including murder, kidnapping and torture, must stay off active duty while their case proceeds, the Democratic Alliance has said.
The South African Police Service’s provincial management has approached the Western Cape High Court to request relaxed bail conditions for the officers, seeking permission for them to return to active duty despite the charges against them.
The 11 officers are accused of involvement in the death of Wade Prince, a Manenberg resident and alleged gang member, who died on 4 December 2025 whilst allegedly being interrogated following a shooting outside the Athlone Magistrates Court.
According to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID), which is investigating the case, Prince’s death was the result of unnatural causes.
Family members and witnesses have claimed that Prince and two others were assaulted after being taken to the Maneberg police station.
The police version of events differs significantly. SAPS said Prince complained of an earache and collapsed during the police interaction, and was pronounced dead shortly thereafter.
The 11 Anti-Gang Unit members face multiple charges: murder, four counts of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, four counts of kidnapping, one count of torture, and defeating the ends of justice.
The court has ordered that the officers’ identities be withheld. According to earlier reports, 10 of the 11 were denied bail whilst one was released with conditions.
The DA’s Western Cape spokesperson on police oversight and community safety, Benedicta van Minnen, said allowing officers facing such serious charges to continue policing would undermine public trust in law enforcement.
“The DA calls on SAPS management in the Western Cape to act responsibly and ensure that officers who are criminally charged are placed on precautionary suspension until their matters are finalised,” Van Minnen said.
“Communities cannot be expected to trust a policing system where those accused of serious crimes are allowed to continue wearing the badge and exercising authority.”
The DA said it would write to Western Cape police commissioner Thembisile Patekile to urge him to reconsider the application to relax bail conditions.
Van Minnen said the case highlighted the need for a full review of the SAPS command structure in the province to ensure leadership would place principles, justice and the integrity of SAPS above all else.
The incident has cast a shadow over the Anti-Gang Unit, which was established to combat gang violence in communities across the Cape Flats, where gang-related crime remains a significant challenge.
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