City’s SSIU ‘hot potato’ for authorities

THE controversy surrounding the City’s Safety and Security Investigations Unit (SSIU) is far from over, with no indication from relevant authorities who should take responsibility for its alleged illegality.

Despite Police Minister Bheki Cele acknowledging in March that the unit was not established in terms of the Police Act, the ministry said this week it was still looking into whether the unit operated legally and if its operations and mandate did not infringe the law.

The Weekend Argus was also told that a legal team from the Special Investigating Unit met with Premier Alan Winde and Police Oversight and

Community Safety MEC Reagen Allen over the SSIU.

A spokesperson for the Justice Minister, Chrispin Phiri, said the meeting also discussed concerns over the use of the name “Investigation Unit”. “The matter falls within Cele’s ambit,” said Phiri.

However, no authority would say whether or not it would be disbanded.

The Department of Policing Oversight and Community Safety, which plays an oversight role over the City's safety and security operations and funds the Law Enforcement Advanced Plan (LEAP) programme, said it was “within Allen or Winde’s powers to order disbandment of the controversial unit”.

Previously GOOD Party MP Brett Herron first raised concerns over the role of the City’s SSIU in investigating organised crime, and what Cele planned to do to “rein in rogue policing structures” conducting unlawful investigations.

In response, Cele said the SSIU had not been established in terms of the Police Act.

Herron said he had seen evidence that the unit was also gathering intelligence on some of the most infamous names in organised crime.

The Police Act dictates that organised crime is either investigated by the Hawks or the police and that crime intelligence is a function of the SA Police Service.

The unit is headed by a former police officer, Reynold Talmakkies, who faces charges of docket tampering in Mpumalanga and of fraud and corruption in Cape Town.

The City is paying Talmakkies’ legal fees for the charges in Cape Town.

Herron said: “The SSIU is but one of a number of well-equipped specialised units reporting to Smith (Mayco member for Safety and Security, JP Smith).”

Herron also wrote an open letter to Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis requesting the unit be shut down.

In the letter, Herron said: “Talmakkies’ son was recently arrested for the second time this year in connection with alleged gang activities and is allegedly a member of the Junky Funky gang.

Hill-Lewis said the SSIU conducted activities “within its scope” that were related to gang activity and drug dealing in the City’s rental housing units”.

City spokesperson Luthando Tyhalibongo

said the City’s funding of Talmakkies’ legal case was in line with its employment policies.

“Should any wrongdoing be found, the City reserves the right to recover the full costs of legal representation, and to take any further action required in terms of the law,” he said.