On February, 15 March, Turnbull, the former deputy chair of the Claremont CPF, announced the resignation of six committee members.
This sparked criticism of Claremont Police’s Crime Intelligence Division (CID) for an insufficient investigation into criminal cases.
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‘We are stepping down from the committee because we are unable to effectively table and resolve complaints related to systemic problems within Claremont CID,’ Turnbull told the People’s Post.
‘The CID Branch Commander and the Station Commander are either unable or unwilling to address these problems.’
As per News24, Turnbull said the group stepped down from the executive positions, ‘which will render it inoperable until it is rebuilt.’
Claremont SAPS station commander, Colonel Maree Louw, says she was surprised by the event. ‘Only the CPF [chair] and one member pitched, and that is when he read out his resignation letter as well as a combined letter of other CPF members with their reasons.’
She adds that it is ‘unfortunate that they did not see fit to find a common solution for the problems they’ve had with myself, detective commander and detectives, but to take the option to resign.’
According to Louw, she gave input on how SAPS and the CPF could resolve their issues. ‘Saps and CPF are supposed to be in partnership and to find solutions for the station’s problems but I can honestly say all we got from them was criticism.’
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Turnbull describes the ‘strategic move’ as a result of frustration stemming from the inability to carry out their mandated work.
‘What we want to focus on is the worrying number of cases, with excellent supporting evidence and even identifiable suspects, that have not been effectively investigated by the CID branch – even after the CPF Committee tabled formal concerns and formal, well-documented complaints.’
However, he says the exit was only that of the executive council and not the entire CPF.
‘It is ‘our’ CPF and we are not abandoning it. The wider community is well aware of the CID shortcomings which cast Claremont Saps in a negative light. This is profoundly unfair to the many excellent officers serving at Claremont SAPS.’
‘Our Committee is not able to do the work that we believe it is mandated to do – despite months and years of trying to resolve this impasse. So, very reluctantly, we needed to step down and concentrate on what we can achieve, in partnership with the many excellent Saps officers working at Claremont precinct.’
The Claremont CPF’s constitution mandates the election of a chair, deputy chair, treasurer, secretary, projects coordinator, and communications officer, which are all nominated by registered CPF member organisations.
Turnbull says these positions are now all vacant and will need to be filled via nominations and elections, adding that it is SAPS’s responsibility to manage the process.
Louw says the provincial office and the Department of Safety and Security have been informed of the issue, as the CPF’s upcoming annual general meeting now hangs in the balance.
‘A new CPF chair and other members will be elected, but we have no date available now.’
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