Action Society called for the disciplinary action against Brigadier Nokuthala Pete, the current station commander of the South African Police Service station in Paarl in the Western Cape, to be expedited. According to Ian Cameron, director of community safety at Action Society, as station commander, Pete should have motivated and united police officers in the fight against violence in the area, but instead stirred up racial tensions, harming police morale in an area already plagued by serious investigative capacity shortages.
“Pete made it known on Facebook in December last year that she believed SAPS in Paarl is ‘too white’. She encouraged someone to apply for a transfer to Paarl and promised to sign off on it. A disciplinary investigation commenced shortly after the incident, and we have learned that the investigation has been completed. Pete took sick leave shortly after the incident and prolonged her annual leave, meaning she hasn’t returned to her post, creating the impression that she is trying to avoid facing the consequences of her actions.
Pete must go. We need a strong and experienced station commander that can unite SAPS members in the war against crime. If we want to win the war against crime, we need a motivated, united police service led by people with integrity, rather than racial agendas.”
