Western Cape's top cop's retirement sparks mixed reactions
Western Cape Provincial Commissioner General Thembisile Patekile, announced he will retire at the end of June after nearly five years leading policing efforts in the province.
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The retirement of Provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Thembisile Patekile has elicited mixed reactions from local crime fighters and watchdogs, with some wishing him well, and others saying he leaves behind a trail of bloodshed.
Patekile made the announcement on Thursday during the release of the Western Cape’s fourth-quarter crime statistics, where senior police officials, provincial government leaders and community policing structures paid tribute to his leadership.
"Today marks the end of my term. I will be retiring soon at the end of June," Patekile said.
Patekile was officially appointed as the Western Cape Provincial Commissioner in July 2021 after previously serving in an acting capacity.
Reflecting on his tenure, Patekile said he hoped the anti-organised crime strategies and partnerships established during his leadership would continue.
"I would like to see convictions and I would like to see the continuation of what we started, continuing to ensure that the organised crime approach is the way to go," he said.
Cape Flats Safety Forum secretary, Lynn Phillips, who has been fighting crime for over 30 years and has been rallying for Patekile to step down, said he failed to address the gang bloodshed in the province.
She said for his term, he failed to meet and understand the requirements of fighting crime in Cape Town.
“I really feel that he does not have his hand on the pulse pertaining to gang warfare on the Cape Flats, and for this I feel that he should step down as we need a provincial commissioner,” she said.
“We requested the reinstatement of sector policing with the relevant resources and also the need for specialised units at station-level, but that fell on deaf ears.”
Whistleblower and police watchdog, Zona Morton, said while Patekile was in office, crime and corruption escalated.
“The Western Cape has been plagued by gang violence, taxi violence and GBV for decades.
"Since Patekile took office the gang violence escalated, taxi violence escalated.
“Police Officers who committed rape and domestic violence were protected under his command.
“SAPS members were allowed to own taxis without facing consequences.
“Lieutenant General Patekile's retirement will be celebrated in activist spaces for months to come.”
The Cape Crime Crisis Coalition, which had many engagements with Patekile, wished him well.
"It is inevitable that questions will be asked about the effectiveness and impact of his tenure.
"As C4, we are hesitant to lay the failure, such as in SAPS, at the door of single individual.
"But the truth is that Major General Patekile has led SAPS in the province for the past five years and ultimately the buck for improvements in policing in the province does stop with him."
Western Cape MEC for Police Oversight and Community Safety Anroux Marais described their working relationship as one built through difficult conversations around the province’s crime challenges.
"On behalf of the Western Cape government, I wish you strength, peace and all the best in your retirement." she said.
Chairperson of the Western Cape CPF Board Francina Lukas also thanked Patekile for his service to the province.