Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Caryn Dolley
Published on 2024-03-19 11:45:22
Reynold Talmakkies, a former Safety and Security Directorate officer in the City of Cape Town, recently retired amidst mounting accusations and a looming disciplinary hearing. Prior to his position at the City, Talmakkies had a background in the South African Police Service, where he also faced various allegations regarding his conduct. The disciplinary hearing that Talmakkies was set to face was related to his time at the City of Cape Town.
On the day before his retirement, City spokesperson Luthando Tyhalibongo informed Daily Maverick that the Disciplinary Hearing scheduled for Talmakkies was set to proceed on March 14, 2024. Additional charges were added to the hearing, which led to Talmakkies’ decision to retire with immediate effect on the same day. Talmakkies was described as a head in the Special Investigations Unit, previously known as the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) before being renamed to the Safety and Security Investigations Unit (SSIU).
The SSIU had previously come under scrutiny, with former Cape Town mayor Patricia de Lille ordering its closure in 2017 due to allegations of misuse for purposes other than intended, including undermining political opponents. However, the unit was reinstated in 2018. In 2022, new claims of “rogue” operations connected to the SSIU prompted Police Minister Bheki Cele to launch an investigation into its activities.
Apart from his involvement with the SSIU, Talmakkies also faced direct accusations, including allegations of fraud dating back to his time as a police officer. In 2021, Daily Maverick reported on a fraud case from 2016 involving alleged docket tampering at a police station in Mpumalanga. Talmakkies was also arrested in 2021 in connection with tender fraud allegations.
In a separate incident, a Western Cape high court judgment in November last year found Talmakkies had acted inappropriately towards a magistrate presiding over a murder case involving his son, David. The court deemed Talmakkies’ actions towards the magistrate a security breach, although the magistrate’s recusal was ultimately set aside, affirming her impartiality in the case.
Following the reporting on these incidents, Talmakkies was suspended by the City of Cape Town in November 2023. His suspension led to the disciplinary hearing, which coincided with his retirement announcement. Daily Maverick reached out to Talmakkies for comment on the matter but did not receive a response by the time of publication.
As the details surrounding Talmakkies’ retirement and the allegations against him continue to unfold, the City of Cape Town remains vigilant in addressing concerns related to his conduct while in their employment.
Read the original article on Daily Maverick
