Image created by AI

The Declassified Kinnear Report: Examining IPID's Handling and the Impact on the Family and SAPS

Published November 09, 2024
3 months ago

Lieutenant Colonel Charl Kinnear’s assassination in September 2020 shocked the nation, and subsequent investigations have implicated some of the highest-ranking officers within the South African Police Service (SAPS). However, it's the Independent Police Investigative Directorate's (IPID) handling of the consequential report that’s raising eyebrows, questions, and, recently, tensions.





Kinnear, a member of the Western Cape's Anti-Gang Unit, was working on cases involving organized crime and allegedly corrupt police officers concerning fraudulent firearm licenses. His killing, outside his home in the Cape Town suburb of Bishop Lavis, was widely believed to be linked to his work. Subsequently, the focus turned on why Kinnear was not under state protection despite a known threat to his life.


IPID's handling of the investigative report began when it was initially deemed top secret. Subsequently, it came under intense scrutiny when it was questioned in Parliament for not following appropriate classification procedures. The report, which implicated high-ranking police officials, surfaced in the public domain through leaks, causing a furore over its accessibility and classification.


The ordeal took a turn on 6 November 2024, as IPID announced the declassification of the contentious report, a move that was made without prior briefing to Kinnear’s family. This disregard triggered criticism from Kinnear’s widow, Nicolette, who accused IPID of a lack of respect and consideration.


IPID justified its actions by prioritizing its obligation to inform the nation, promising subsequent engagement with the family. The report indicated a failure within SAPS to protect Kinnear and suggested criminal charges for two Hawks officers for inaction when his cellphone was illegally tracked. It further recommended disciplinary action against implicated officers within SAPS and the Hawks.


Various reactions followed the declassification, such as the pushback from the national head of the Hawks, Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya, and denial of allegations against the former national police commissioner. The professional turmoil for the implicated officials sits starkly against the personal tragedy of Kinnear’s family, still seeking to understand the failures that led to his lack of protection and ultimately his death.


The declassification and the information within need to be examined against the backdrop of systemic issues within SAPS, the conduct of high-ranking officials, and the procedural integrity of IPID itself. The Kinnear family's grief has been compounded by procedural irregularities and a perceived institutional disregard for their right to information, shining a light on broader accountability challenges within South Africa's law enforcement agencies.


Leave a Comment

Rate this article:

Please enter email address.
Looks good!
Please enter your name.
Looks good!
Please enter a message.
Looks good!
Please check re-captcha.
Looks good!
Leave the first review