Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za

3-minute read
28 September 2023 | 13:02 CAT

Image: CapeTalk

The widow of Western Cape top cop Charl Kinnear, Nicole Kinnear, has opened a culpable homicide case against SAPS officers who were negligent in performing their tasks as mandated by the constitution. It has been three years since the decorated detective who spent his life-fighting gang leaders in the Western Cape was shot and killed.

“Had certain people done their work, my husband’s death could have been prevented,” says Nicole Kinnear.

According to Nicole, in the three years that have passed, many of the people implicated in the case have either left the organization by resignation or have retired. SAPS can no longer hold a disciplinary hearing against them.

Nicole said, “three years later, SAPS themselves has initiated no departmental hearings agaings anyone, nor have they recommended any departmental or criminal charges for that matter and have done nothing for three years.”

The murder of Charl Kinnear occurred on 18 September 2020 as he left his home in Bishop Lavis, Cape Town, South Africa. He was shot multiple times in the upper body whilst seated in the driver’s seat of his white Toyota Corolla, resulting in his death.

Kinnear was a lieutenant colonel in the South African Police Service (SAPS) and was the section commander for the Western Cape anti-gang unit. Former pro rugby player Zane Killian was arrested shortly after the incident and charged with Kinnear’s murder. Kinnear’s mobile phone had been illegally tracked 2,116 times by Killian before his murder using a specialized mobile phone tracking device and software.

At his death, Kinnear was investigating a gun racketeering case involving the alleged organized crime boss and eight high-ranking police officers. The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) reported that Kinnear’s death could result in the collapse of several high-profile organized crime cases he was investigating. The same report stated that there was a “rogue unit” in the Western Cape Crime Intelligence Division of SAPS and commended Kinnear’s investigation of corruption within the organization.

The alleged crime boss and two additional suspects were arrested and charged with Kinnear’s murder in 2021. Recordings made by one of the suspects indicated that a prior unsuccessful attempt on Kinnear’s life had been made when a hand grenade failed to detonate in front of Kinnear’s home on 23 November 2019. Following the first attempt, a police detail was instructed to guard Kinnear’s house but was removed on 19 December 2019.

listen to the full interview on The Daily Round-Up with Moulana Junaid Kharsany.