Torture-Accused South African Police Officer Promoted to Station Commander in Muizenberg
Colonel Delmore Manuel, who is awaiting trial for the alleged torture of a barber, has been promoted from lieutenant colonel to colonel and appointed as the permanent station commander at Muizenberg SAPS. Manuel and two co-accused constables face criminal charges stemming from a 2023 raid in Mowbray. While Manuel was acquitted in a 2024 internal SAPS disciplinary proceeding, the promotion has drawn sharp criticism from political figures questioning the transparency and ethical standards of police leadership.
Key points
- Colonel Delmore Manuel was promoted to colonel and made permanent station commander at Muizenberg SAPS.
- Manuel and two other officers are awaiting trial for allegedly torturing barber Juma Igiraneza on 7 November 2023.
- An internal SAPS disciplinary proceeding in June 2024 found Manuel not guilty, and he remained on active duty.
- DA MP Nicholas Gotsell criticized the appointment, questioning whether SAPS leadership knew about the pending criminal charges before approving the promotion.
- The criminal trial is scheduled for May 2027.
What happened
Colonel Delmore Manuel, awaiting trial on torture charges, has been promoted to colonel and appointed as the permanent station commander at Muizenberg SAPS in South Africa. Manuel is on trial at the Wynberg Magistrates’ Court alongside constable Jermaine Conradie and constable Leigh-Ann Maroon. The charges relate to the alleged repeated assault of barber Juma Igiraneza during a workplace raid in Mowbray on November 7, 2023, an incident captured on CCTV. The officers remain out on bail.
News of the appointment circulated via a congratulatory WhatsApp message from the South African Policing Union (SAPU), praising Manuel's discipline and integrity. Trade unions SAPU and POPCRU stated they could not comment on sub judice matters or internal employer-employee promotions.
Who said what
Democratic Alliance (DA) Member of Parliament Nicholas Gotsell criticized the appointment, emphasizing that while Manuel is entitled to the presumption of innocence, questions remain regarding whether SAPS leadership was aware of the serious criminal charges when authorizing the promotion. Gotsell raised concerns about community confidence in high-crime areas under the Muizenberg jurisdiction, such as Vrygrond and Overcome Heights, and called on provincial commissioner Lieutenant-General Sizakhele Dyantyi to demand accountability.
SAPS provincial spokesperson Colonel Andr Traut stated that inquiries regarding employment status and disciplinary processes were under review, though no further comment was provided.
Context
A parliamentary response previously confirmed that Manuel and his co-accused underwent internal SAPS disciplinary proceedings in June 2024, where Manuel was found not guilty. Despite facing criminal charges, the officers remained on active duty. Police stated that internal disciplinary outcomes are not discussed publicly.
What happens next
The criminal trial for Colonel Manuel and his co-accused officers is scheduled to begin in May 2027, approximately three and a half years after the initial incident in Mowbray.
