Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia has reportedly confirmed that no provisions of the South African Police Service (SAPS) Act were contravened by the recent fitness exercise between Cape Town Metro police officers and United States marines.

He was responding to a parliamentary question from MK Party MP Jeffrey Bhekumndeni Mtolo, who enquired about the legalities surrounding such a joint exercise drill.

He had written to Cachalia, wanting to know whether the training of Cape Town Metro police by the US Marines was an accredited part of basic police training.

He also wanted to know exactly what provisions of the SAPS Act permitted such an exercise, whether the legislation had been undermined in any way and, if so, disciplinary action against senior police management was warranted.

Background

In April People’s Post reported, the presence of United States Marines training Cape Town Metro Police cadets from the City of Cape Town’s Public Safety Training College (PTSC) on Muizenberg Beach has sparked political debate, with questions being raised about the legality and oversight of the arrangement.

The City previously said the event was a once-off “fitness exercise” with the Marines based at the US Consulate in Cape Town and an “opportunity for officers to experience US Marine-style fitness drills.”

“The City has, in recent years, as part of its expansion of the PSTC, started placing a stronger emphasis on physical fitness of enforcement services, with ongoing assessments of all levels of staff,” said the City’s mayco member for safety and security, JP Smith at the time.

Minister responds

Cachalia stated the fitness exercise was not an accredited part of the Basic Police Development Learning Programme.

“The South African Police Service understands that the engagement was explained as an informal fitness exercise,” he told Parliament, “and not as training that formed part of any accredited SAPS training programme.

“Therefore the Basic Police Development Learning Programme, its curriculum requirements and associated training prescripts were not applicable.”

Cachalia emphasised that no law had been broken by the exercise.

“No provision of the South African Police Service Act was undermined or contravened by the fitness exercise conducted between members of the Cape Town Metro Police Department and United States Marines.

He addes that no disciplinary action was needed. “No member of the South African Police Service was involved in the incident and there is, accordingly, no legal basis on which disciplinary action should be instituted against any police officer in relation to the matter.”

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