A crime activist has called for a formal investigation into a once-off fitness training session held last week between Cape Town metro police cadets and US Marines, after video footage of the event circulated widely on social media.
The activist argued that the engagement undermines command and control structures, stating that municipal authorities lack the right to engage directly with a foreign military force. He drew parallels to last year’s naval drill in Simon’s Town involving Russian, Chinese, and Iranian forces, which sparked controversy and led to the withdrawal of Iranian participants. He described the incident as occurring in a “very sensitive geopolitical arena” and urged authorities to probe whether proper authorization was obtained and to examine the motives behind the operation.
The session took place at Muizenberg beach, where uniformed US Marines led cadets through physical drills as part of an informal arrangement.
In response, the City of Cape Town defended the activity, describing it as an informal fitness drill with no formal training component and no cost to the city. The Marines involved are based at the US Consulate in Cape Town. The city noted that it has placed stronger emphasis on physical fitness for its enforcement services in recent years through the Public Safety Training College, including ongoing assessments of staff at all levels. The engagement allowed staff to measure their fitness standards against those of another entity.
Security strategist and retired Interpol ambassador Andy Mashaile emphasized the importance of strengthening policing capacity. He pointed out that South Africa, the United States, and more than 190 other countries are members of Interpol, making such cooperation routine. Mashaile suggested that similar training opportunities could benefit municipal police agencies more broadly, helping to build skills and share expertise across cities.
The city further highlighted that international collaboration is not new to its public safety efforts. Examples include a training course in April 2024 on cyber forensics for first responders, presented by experts from France and Australia, and a multi-agency workshop in February 2023 on kidnapping and extortion, involving representatives from the UK and the US, including the FBI. Both the South African Police Service and the National Prosecuting Authority were invited to and accepted those engagements.
The incident has unfolded against a backdrop of ongoing diplomatic tensions between South Africa and the United States. While critics have raised questions about oversight and authorization, security experts have noted that international cooperation of this nature remains common in policing and capacity-building contexts.
No formal response from national government authorities has been detailed in connection with the activist’s call for an investigation.
