Suspended Cato Manor cops back on the beat

AFTER being in the wilderness for six years, most of the 18 Cato Manor policemen – accused of using their SAPS serious and violent crimes unit to eliminate suspects – have returned to work.

Their suspensions, which followed allegations that the officers were members of a so-called “hit squad” – which they and their then commander, Major-General Johan Booysen, vehemently denied – were lifted by police top brass.

Booysen, a former co-accused, is on record as saying the 2012 arrests of himself and his members on charges of murder, attempted murder and racketeering was an orchestrated campaign to discredit them and to disband the unit.

The lifting of the suspensions will beef up the strength, expertise and skills of the Hawks in Durban.

The officers, who collectively were paid millions of rand by the State over the past six years while sitting at home, have made several court appearances.

A trial date was set in the Durban High Court two years ago but the trial never got off the ground because the State was not ready.

The State was granted a final adjournment late last year.

The accused will be back in court in October.

They are Shane Naidoo, Mukesh Panday, Peter George, Shane Smith, Paul Mostert, Enoch John, Bruce McInnes, Jeremy Martin, Raymond Lee, Anton Lockem, Mhlabunzima Thabethe, Thembinkosi Mkhwanazi, Gonasagren Padaychee, Adrian Stolz, Eric Nel, Adjith Ghaness, Phumelela Makhanya and Willie Olivier.

Most of them are back on the beat, although some are believed to have retired.

This week, a policeman who is back at work said he was relieved that the suspensions had been lifted.

“I am a policeman and don’t know any other job. It took me years to hone my skills fighting crime and it’s fantastic to be back,” he said, requesting anonymity as he was not authorised to speak to the media. “There is lots of catching up and work to do.”

Johan Burger, a senior researcher at the Institute for Security Studies, said at the time the hit squad allegations surfaced that he was bewildered that so many police officers from one unit had been arrested and suspended.

He found it unbelievable that the whole unit had been shut down and doubted that the State had a prima facie case against them.

The spokesperson for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks), Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi, told they were happy the police officers were back on duty and hoped their re-reinstatement would add value to the Hawks and the fight against crime.