The police’s Anti-Gang Unit, a specialized force deployed to combat rampant gangsterism in the Western Cape, is now the subject of a criminal investigation after a community patroller accused its members of a violent assault.
The allegations stem from an incident in the Xakabantu informal settlement in Muizenberg, which occurred just one day after a mass shooting in the area claimed three lives, including two female community patrollers.
Michael Kumalo, a community patroller and activist, has formally laid charges of assault against the unit at the Muizenberg Police Station. According to Kumalo, the case has been referred to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) for further investigation.
In a detailed account, Kumalo described being confronted by members of the Anti-Gang Unit and Metro Police on the Sunday evening following the shooting. He stated that officers stormed into a community meeting, ordered everyone to lie on their stomachs, and then directly targeted him.
“They come straight to me and they said, ‘Mike, we come to you today and we’re going to teach you a lesson,’” Kumalo recounted. The officers allegedly demanded he show them where he stored drugs and guns, accusations he vehemently denied.
Kumalo claims he was then dragged into a separate room and assaulted. The alleged attack involved officers smacking his ears, using pepper spray in his mouth and ears, and pressing a loudspeaker siren directly against his ear.
“I think that has caused the damage that both of my eardrums have got holes,” Kumalo stated, expressing concern over potential permanent injury. He also alleged that officers took his two phones and money from his wallet during the incident before he lost consciousness.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) has not yet issued an official response to the allegations. Newsroom Africa, which first reported the story, confirmed they are awaiting comment from both SAPS and IPID regarding the status of the investigation and the number of complaints lodged against the Anti-Gang Unit this year.
The charges create a complex and troubling situation in Muizenberg, where residents are caught between intense violence from criminal gangs and now serious allegations against the very unit sent to protect them. The community of Xakabantu, still reeling from the recent mass shooting, now faces a crisis of trust in the authorities meant to ensure its safety.
