Colonel Delmore Manuel, one of three South African Police Service (SAPS) officers facing torture charges from a November 2023 assault in Mowbray, was promoted to permanent station commander at Muizenberg SAPS while his criminal case remains pending. Manuel’s appointment from lieutenant colonel to colonel was confirmed in October 2026, despite ongoing legal proceedings that include multiple postponements.
The charges stem from an incident on 7 November 2023 when barber Juma Igiraneza was allegedly assaulted during a police raid at his workplace in Mowbray. Alongside Manuel, officers Jermaine Conradie and Leigh-Ann Maroon face the same allegations. The trial is scheduled to begin on 19 May 2027 after repeated delays, according to court records.
Internal SAPS disciplinary action cleared Manuel of wrongdoing, while Conradie and Maroon received written warnings. This outcome did not halt Manuel’s advancement within the police force, drawing public and political criticism. ‘‘The issue is not whether he is guilty; he remains entitled to the presumption of innocence. The issue is whether SAPS knew that an officer facing serious criminal charges, including a torture charge arising from the alleged assault of a barber, was before court when it promoted him,’’ said Democratic Alliance MP Nicholas Gotsell during a media briefing.
Independent media outlets Eyewitness News and IOL corroborated the promotion and raised concerns about the ethical implications of advancing an officer under such serious allegations. SAPS provincial spokesperson Colonel André Traut acknowledged the matter was under review but declined to provide a substantive comment when approached by reporters.
Trade unions representing police personnel echoed the limited scope to intervene in promotions, citing employer-employee processes. Merae Otto of the South African Policing Union stated, ‘‘SAPU is not aware, nor able to comment on matters which are sub judice,’’ while Mluleki Mbhele from the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union highlighted that disputes involving promotions only become union matters if contested.
This case underscores ongoing challenges around police accountability in the Western Cape. The legal proceedings and SAPS’ internal handling of the officers involved remain closely watched by civil society and political actors alike. Manuel’s appointment raises questions about SAPS’ criteria for leadership suitability during unresolved criminal allegations and the message it sends to victims and communities.
The next significant court date in this matter is set for 19 May 2027. Cape Flats News will continue to monitor developments and report on both the trial and SAPS’ response.