The EFF has intensified pressure on the State to release 11 Anti-Gang Unit (AGU) officers facing serious criminal charges, arguing that their continued detention amounts to unjust “pretrial punishment” and places their lives in danger.
The officers, who cannot be named due to a court order, appeared before the Athlone Magistrates’ Court last Thursday.
In a statement, the party confirmed that public support for the officers is growing.
“A petition with over 1,000 signatures has already been submitted, calling for the officers’ release,” the EFF said.
The 11 officers are accused of murder, kidnapping and torture following the death of alleged gang member Wade Price.
They have denied all allegations and insist they acted within the scope of their duties.
The case has drawn national attention, reopening debates around police accountability, bail, and the risks faced by officers who combat organised crime.
The EFF said the petition correctly acknowledges that the officers “have been at the forefront of protecting communities from violent organised crime,” adding that their detention ignores the conditions under which they operated.
“The Anti-Gang Unit has historically been under-resourced, poorly capacitated, and lacked clear guidelines since its inception in 2018,” the party said.
“These officers have been operating within a ‘broken system’ that failed to protect even its high-profile investigators, such as the late Charl Kinnear.”
The party argued that it is unjust to hold the officers in custody for actions allegedly committed while performing their duties under severe institutional strain.
“It is an injustice to now penalise these eleven members with pretrial incarceration for incidents occurring in the line of duty under such strained organisational conditions,” the statement read.
Central to the EFF’s argument is the State’s opposition to bail, despite reported recommendations by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) that the officers be released on bail of R1,000.
The party described the State’s decision to override this recommendation as “highly irregular.”
The EFF also raised alarm over the officers’ safety at Pollsmoor Prison, saying they have received direct threats from inmates previously arrested by the AGU.
One officer allegedly reported being told, “Ons wag vir jou by Pollsmoor” (We are waiting for you in Pollsmoor).
“By opposing bail, the State is effectively feeding them to the wolves,” the party said, warning that law enforcement officials are being housed alongside individuals they once investigated.
While acknowledging the seriousness of the charges and the need for a thorough investigation, the EFF maintained that justice is not served by continued detention.
The party demanded that the court grant bail in line with IPID’s recommendation and ensure the State fulfils its duty of care.
The EFF further warned that abandoning the officers sends a chilling message.
“Police officials must be able to trust the system they represent,” it said, adding that the bail process should not be used as a tool of punishment before trial.
Politics
