Premier Alan Winde and Western Cape Minister of Police Oversight and Community Safety, Anroux Marais, have welcomed the appointment of Major General Luyanda Damoyi as acting Western Cape Provincial Police Commissioner.

Damoyi previously served as Deputy Provincial Commissioner under his predecessor, Lieutenant General Thembisile Patekile, a background that both the premier and the minister say positions him well for the role.

“Maj Gen Damoyi brings with him a wealth of experience and knowledge, having served as the Deputy Provincial Commissioner under his predecessor, Lieutenant General Thembisile Patekile,” said Premier Winde.

Minister Marais echoed the sentiment. “I am confident that his leadership, integrity and experience will guide the police in the Western Cape with excellence. I wish him every success in strengthening public safety and fostering trust between the police and the communities it serves by upholding the highest standards of justice and accountability.”

Resourcing and decentralisation top the agenda

While welcoming the appointment, Premier Winde was candid about the challenges awaiting the new acting commissioner. He called on Damoyi to make resourcing a priority from the outset.

“I urge the Maj Gen to prioritise the push for better resourcing. The police in the Western Cape continues to face significant resource constraints, making strong partnerships with municipal law enforcement agencies, including the Law Enforcement Advancement Plan (LEAP), more important than ever,” said Winde.

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The Premier also signalled that broader structural conversations can no longer be deferred. “While the Western Cape Government remains committed to supporting the police wherever possible, we must also accelerate discussions on decentralising key policing functions, such as expanding investigative powers and strengthening intelligence capabilities within metro police services.”

Both the premier and the minister urged Damoyi to consider implementing the recommendations outlined in the Western Cape Government’s Policing Needs and Priorities Report, which they say would assist in improving the work of the police and other law enforcement agencies across the province.

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