Staff Reporter.
The South African Police Service (Saps) in the Western Cape have opened an inquiry into sexual assault allegations against suspended Community Safety MEC Albert Fritz.
This was confirmed on Thursday by Brigadier Novela Potelwa, spokesperson of Western Cape Provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Thembisile Patekile.
According to Potelwa, the inquiry was opened while police wait for “key pertinent documentation” before a case could be registered.
Potelwa was reacting to media inquiries after the ANC’s Western Cape leader in the provincial legislature, Cameron Dugmore, wrote to Patekile’s office requesting an investigation into the allegations levelled against Fritz.
“The office of the provincial commissioner acknowledges receipt of correspondence from the ANC in the Western Cape. The letter in question forms part of a series of engagements by various parties with regard to the matter raised,” she said in a statement.
Potelwa added: “The doors of the Saps remain open for all victims of the crime to open cases with the necessary support availed to them by police.
“It also begs to mention that gender-based violence still is one of the priorities of the Saps. Our specialist detectives located within the FCS [Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences] units are always on hand to investigate reported cases.”
Western Cape Premier Alan Winde on Wednesday announced that Advocate Jennifer Williams had been appointed by the State Attorney as an independent legal counsel to investigate sexual misconduct allegations against Fritz.
Williams is a former director of the Women’s Legal Centre and an advocate at the Cape Bar.
Winde committed to publicly release the findings of the investigation once it was concluded.
“I will communicate the outcome of the investigation and take such steps as may be necessary or appropriate upon its finalisation,He said.