The Western Cape Division of the High Court has determined that Reynold Talmakkies, the head of the Special Investigating Unit in Cape Town, acted inappropriately regarding a murder case in which his son was implicated.
Also read: High Court judges criticise Cape Town magistrate’s case management
Talmakkies reportedly approached the magistrate overseeing the case, prompting her subsequent recusal. The high court, in its judgement issued on Tuesday, unequivocally stated that the magistrate’s recusal was unnecessary, deeming Talmakkies’ actions ‘beyond reproach.’
This incident not only caused significant delays in the murder trial but also brought to light a security breach within the court system.
His son, David Talmakkies, is one of two accused and faces a charge of murder and another of attempted murder related to an incident from December 2020, when a man named Chad du Plessis was fatally stabbed in Strandfontein.
The full judgement can be viewed on Scribd.
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Talmakkies, a former South African Police Service officer currently employed by the City of Cape Town’s Safety and Security Directorate, has faced a series of legal challenges.
In April 2021, the Daily Maverick reported accusations of fraud against him in a case dating back to 2016. This case was related to alleged docket manipulation associated with a police station in Mpumalanga. Subsequently, Talmakkies found himself embroiled in another legal matter and was arrested in December 2021 on charges related to tender fraud.
The City of Cape Town acknowledged its awareness of the criminal cases involving Talmakkies last year to the Daily Maverick, stating that he ‘has been placed on administrative duty while due process is followed in the courts regarding the two matters, both of which arose after his initial appointment’.
He is still employed by the City, as confirmed by Daily Maverick.
Regarding Tuesday’s judgement that mentioned Talmakkies, the City, in response to the Daily Maverick, stated, ‘the City has become aware of the judgement that was handed down in the Western Cape High Court… and is currently considering its options.’
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