A police officer who was reportedly dismissed two months ago was found working at his station last week. This discovery has raised serious questions about how police departments handle dismissals and record-keeping in South Africa.
Nicholas Gotsell, a Member of Parliament from the Democratic Alliance party, visited Athlone Police Station on February 6. During this visit, he saw a constable performing regular duties in the charge office. This would be a simple matter if the officer was supposed to be there. But according to official records, this same officer should not have been at work at all.
The confusion started when Gotsell asked a question in Parliament about this particular officer. The government’s written reply stated that the constable was dismissed from the South African Police Service on December 10, 2025. The dismissal came after disciplinary action was taken against him.
However, what Gotsell discovered during his visit tells a different story. The officer was actively working at the station. A senior officer at Athlone Police Station confirmed this and added more surprising information. The station management had no knowledge of any dismissal. They only knew about an ongoing case against the constable that had not yet been concluded.
This situation is not easy to explain. How can someone be officially dismissed but still come to work every day? How can station management not know about a dismissal that supposedly happened two months ago? These are the questions Gotsell wants answered.
The MP has written a letter to Acting Minister of Police, Professor Firoz Cachalia, demanding an explanation. He has given the minister seven days to respond. In his letter, Gotsell pointed out that the official Parliamentary reply directly contradicts what he witnessed during his oversight visit.
The Independent Police Investigative Directorate said that dismissals of police members fall under the responsibility of the police service itself. The provincial police communication office is still gathering information before making any statement about this case.
This incident adds to growing concerns about discipline and accountability in South Africa’s police service. Just last month, Gotsell shared a video showing an armed police officer sleeping in a marked police vehicle while his colleague shopped at Woolworths. That incident also led to a disciplinary investigation.
In another recent case, Minister Cachalia admitted that the police disciplinary system was “broken.” This admission came after questions about two officers who were caught with a stolen patrol car containing drugs and alcohol. One officer was initially dismissed while the other received only a one-month suspension without pay. However, the dismissal was later changed by the provincial commissioner.
These incidents show that managing police discipline is not a simple task in South Africa. There appear to be serious problems with how cases are handled, how information is recorded, and how decisions are communicated within the police service.
The public deserves clear answers about this case. If an officer was truly dismissed, proper procedures should ensure they cannot continue working. If the dismissal was reversed or never properly processed, Parliament and the public should be informed. The current situation creates confusion and undermines trust in police management systems.
As the country waits for Minister Cachalia’s response, this case highlights the need for better oversight and clearer communication within the police service. Without proper systems, it becomes too easy for important information to get lost or misreported.
