WATCH: Concerns emerge over US Marines training Cape Town Metro police
The US Marines on Muizenberg Beach in Cape Town.
Image: screenshot /Facebook
The national Ministry of Police says it was not aware of US Marines training Cape Town Metro Police cadets in Muizenberg, while concerns have been raised over the authorisation and legal basis of the training.
Spokesperson for the Minister of Police, Kamogelo Mogotsi, said: “The Ministry is not aware of this,” in response to media enquiries about the drills which took place in Muizenberg over the weekend.
Videos and images of uniformed US Marines putting cadets through drills on the beach circulated widely, drawing public attention.
The GOOD Party’s Jonathan Cupido said the presence of US Marines training Metro Police cadets “is not something that can be brushed off as a simple ‘fitness session’”.
“It raises serious legal, governance and accountability concerns,” he said.
“Municipal policing in South Africa is not a free-for-all. The Constitution is clear that municipal police services must operate within a national legislative framework.”
He said the South African Police Service Act makes it clear that the National Commissioner determines the standards and training applicable to municipal police.
“The City does not have the authority to improvise training arrangements outside of that framework,” Cupido said.
He said references by the City to broader cooperation raised further concerns.
“That immediately raises red flags,” he said.
Cupido said the City must explain “under what legal authority” US Marines were involved, whether the arrangement was authorised or approved, and whether it extended beyond physical training.
He also questioned what agreement governs the cooperation and what costs were incurred.
“If the City believes this was appropriate, then it should have no problem placing the full legal basis, approvals and agreements on record,” he said.
“Cape Town cannot claim to uphold the rule of law while selectively stepping outside of it when it suits them.”
The City of Cape Town said the session was an informal fitness exercise.
Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security JP Smith said: “The engagement between the City’s Public Safety Training College and Marines based at the US Consulate in Cape Town was a fitness exercise.”
“It was an informal arrangement where staff could measure their fitness standards against that of another entity. It was not a formal training engagement and there was no cost involved to the City,” Smith said.
He said the City has, in recent years, placed a stronger emphasis on physical fitness within its enforcement services.
“Fitness is a culture we have introduced within our directorate and strongly endorse amongst our members,” Smith said.
Smith said the City regularly engages with international partners to improve its capabilities.
“It must be noted that the City has engaged with cities and governments across the world to learn about, or identify ways in which we are able to improve our own abilities,” he said.
“We regularly accept assistance from international policing agencies as they support us in creating South Africa’s most reputable municipal policing service,” Smith said.
He added that such cooperation includes a range of focus areas.
“From specialized training in cyber crime, kidnapping, poaching, narcotics, and investigation techniques, we are always trying to lift the bar,” he said.
Smith said the session with the Marines was limited in scope.
“This time, the US Marines joined our Metro Police cadets and took them through their ‘standard fitness routine’,” he said.
Media enquiries to SAPS in the Western Cape were referred back to the City of Cape Town.
The Western Cape Ministry of Police Oversight and Community Safety said it was awaiting further information before responding to media enquiries at the time of publication.
The City maintains that the session was informal, limited to fitness activities, and carried no cost to the public.