Khayelitsha Inquiry final report delayed

Amanda Dissel, the Commission Secretary said, “We were granted a postponement as the Commissioners needed more time to write the report. This is due to the very detailed and voluminous material before the Commission. The Commissioners are currently hard at work analysing the documents and writing up the report.”

The Commission of inquiry into allegations of police inefficiency in Khayelitsha and a breakdown in relations between the community and the police in Khayelitsha is reviewing a substantial volume of evidence. The Inquiry sat for roughly 40 days of public hearings in Khayelitsha. In evidence are roughly 50 000 pages of information, primarily from the South African Police Service, including around 500 police dockets. The Inquiry received over 200 affidavits from members of the community and people affected by policing in Khayelitsha, as well as input from 50 experts on a range of topics.

Some of the evidence that was submitted to the Khayelitsha Commission. Photo by Adam Armstrong.

The commissioners, Justice Catherine O’Regan and Adv Vusi Pikoli, will write the final report.

In terms of the Provincial Government’s oversight role over SAPS, as outlined in the Constitution, the final report will be addressed to the National Minister of Police, Nkosinathi Nhleko. It is currently unclear how the new Minister of Police will receive this document. His predecessor, Nathi Mthethwa, led a legal application to have the Inquiry blocked.

Final arguments of the Inquiry were heard on 29 May 2014. The commissioners and evidence leaders are reviewing the submissions of all parties, in preparing their final report. Premier Zille granted an extension until 8 August 2014 for the Inquiry to submit its final report to her.