Assassination of Top Anti-Gang Cop Shocks South Africa

The killings of Lieutenant Colonel Charl Kinnear and Sergeant Thabile Mapoma have sparked outrage across the South African Police Service. Lieutenant Colonel Charl Kinnear was, at the time of his murder, investigating high-profile cases within the Anti-Gang Unit, while another officer - Sergeant Thabile Mapoma - was shot dead in Khayelitsha, Cape Town. They were both killed outside their homes. An investigation by Maverick Citizen found that Kinnear received death threats for almost ten years, more so after 2018 after he, along with colleague Major General Jeremy Vearey, investigated a gun racket in Durban. A week before his murder, Kinnear visited Springs in Ekurhuleni where he was investigating the application for gun licences of Cape Town underworld figures not approved by the Northwood police. His investigation formed part of a larger gun racket probe into alleged underworld boss Nafiz Modack and eight high-ranking police officers accused of colluding with officers at the Central Firearm Registry in order to produce firearms licences unlawfully.

InFocus

Police Minister General Bheki Cele denounced the killings, murders, saying: "Both the attacks further amplify my call to say, any attack on a police officer is at a direct attack on the state and is tantamount to treason. We will not rest until we deal decisively with those who choose to wage a war on the men and women in blue."

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