Civil groups and political parties have shared their thoughts about outgoing Western Cape Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Thembisile Patekile, who is retiring at the end of the month, and few have had kind words about his tenure.
Patekile was officially appointed as the Western Cape provincial commissioner in July 2021 after previously serving in an acting capacity.
He said that his departure is “not a train smash” and that he is satisfied knowing who will take over “because they will continue with the trajectory of the success”.
Spokesperson for the Minister of Police, Kamogelo Mogotsi, said: “The SAPS is busy with the necessary processes towards the appointment of a provincial commissioner for the Western Cape. Once those processes have been finalised, the SAPS will issue the relevant communication.”
National SAPS spokesperson, Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, said: “The post has been advertised, and the selection process is currently under way. Once the process has been concluded, SAPS will communicate the outcome.”
Commenting on how Patekile performed, Chairperson of Mitchells Plain United Residents Association (MURA), Michael Jacobs, said that while they wish him well, his departure is welcomed because he “did very little to curb crime, especially rampant gun violence and violent criminal gang activities”.
“There seems to be a lack of leadership depth within SAPS, and we as an organisation would welcome an appointment from outside of SAPS, as the current leadership doesn’t inspire confidence within our communities.”
Fight Against Crime SA (FACSA) spokesperson, Jay Jay Idel, said: “FACSA recognises that Patekile inherited one of the most challenging policing environments in South Africa. However, while there have been successes in arrests, firearm recoveries, and specialised operations, the overall crime picture remains deeply concerning.”
Idel said according to SAPS statistics, the Western Cape recorded 4,448 murders and 4,449 attempted murders between April 2025 and March 2026.
“Nearly 9,000 people were either killed or almost killed in violent attacks over a single year. From a community perspective, those figures indicate that despite significant effort and resources, the province continues to struggle with endemic violent crime, particularly on the Cape Flats,” Idel said.
“Our criticism should not be interpreted as a personal attack on Lt-Gen Patekile. Rather, it reflects the principle that public institutions must be held accountable for outcomes. Communities have a right to question whether policing strategies are achieving the impact required when violence remains at these levels. Accountability is an essential part of effective policing and democratic oversight.”
Ilitha Labantu spokesperson, Siyabulela Monakali, said they got the chance to work closely with him as a group that has advocated for women and children for more than 37 years.
“With the support of the provincial commissioner and SAPS leadership structures, the organisation was able to secure buy-in across the various districts in the province, enabling the successful rollout of GBVF training programmes at police stations throughout the Western Cape. These initiatives sought to strengthen institutional capacity, promote survivor-centred responses to violence, and equip police officials with the knowledge and skills required to better support survivors and vulnerable persons.”
Monakali said that while Patekile demonstrated a willingness to engage with civil society organisations, persistent concerns have remained regarding the adequacy of police resources, including personnel, specialised units, equipment, and investigative capacity needed to respond effectively to the scale of crime experienced across the province.
DA spokesperson on Police, Lisa Schickerling, said: “From our oversight perspective, the key issue is not only leadership changes, but whether there is measurable improvement in safety outcomes. While there have been ongoing efforts within SAPS, the reality on the ground remains that gang violence continues to devastate communities, and more must be done.
“We are hopeful that the appointment of a new commissioner will bring renewed focus, stronger coordination between policing structures, and a clear, results-driven strategy to address gang violence.”
GOOD Party Secretary-General Brett Herron said it is hard to say how Patekile fared, as the murders went up every year under his watch, even with the DA putting extra boots on the ground.
“According to the MEC for Police Oversight, he failed to implement the Western Cape Government’s Policing Needs Assessment by deploying more police officers within the province, from where there was an oversupply to where there was a deficit,” Herron said.
“It is still unclear why the Western Cape Government failed to take steps to force him to restructure resources within the province through the constitutional provision of no-confidence in the provincial commissioner.
“It appears he worked hard to maintain a good working relationship with the provincial government. But if we have to measure outcomes… cordial relationships can’t make up for the nearly 20,000 people who lost their lives to murder under his watch,” Herron said.
ActionsSA’s Dereleen James said that they welcome his retirement as it has been decades of consistent crime patterns, and stations in the Western Cape forming part of the top 10 stations for the highest crime rates.
“Despite the support he received from SANDF as a force multiplier in his province, crime, in particular drug and gang-related violence, remains rampant.”
Theolin Tembo
iol.co.za