Police top brass among those implicated in Charl Kinnear murder: IPID

The 52-year-old Anti-Gang Unit section commander was shot dead outside his Bishop Lavis home in September 2020. 

He investigated several high-profile cases in the Western Cape, including the extortion case involving alleged Cape Town underworld figure Nafiz Modack. 

IPID executive director Dikeledi Ntlaseng revealed the details after a decision was made to declassify the investigation report into the murder.

"IPID classified the investigation report in 2022 because it had to protect sensitive information of witnesses as well as information of implicated officers who were yet to be charged at the time,” Ntlaseng said. 

“The decision to classify the report in 2022 was guided by Section 33(2) of the IPID Act, which states that information related to any investigation conducted by the directorate cannot be disclosed to any parties except those implicated or mentioned in the report. 

“Therefore, the department had to ensure that it protected itself from being exposed to unnecessary litigation at the time.”

She said the decision to classify the report was also made in the interest of witnesses. 

 “Currently the information of witnesses is now in the public domain. Therefore, such information is no longer compromised,” said Ntlatseng.  

The IPID investigation report also identified some of the officers who were implicated because of their actions or inactions.

The inaction by police officers constitutes misconduct according to the SAPS regulations.

IPID has since made criminal referrals to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for prosecution and disciplinary recommendations against all nine officials.

Seven were South African Police Service officials, while two were from the Hawks.

Ntlaseng said SAPS has also informed IPID  that it has initiated the process of instituting disciplinary sanctions against its officials in accordance with the recommendations.

 ALSO READ