A Delft police constable, Dumisani Diko, who faces criminal charges, has returned to duty at the same police station where a case docket was allegedly removed and sold to a known gangster. This has raised concerns from MP Nicolas Gotsell, who has demanded answers from national police leadership. Gotsell alleges that Diko was granted bail and allowed to return to duty at Delft SAPS, sparking concerns about the integrity of police dockets and the administration of justice.
According to Gotsell, during an unannounced oversight visit to Delft SAPS on 1 October 2024, he established that Diko had returned to duty and had, for a period, been deployed in the station's charge office. This meant the constable would have had access to SAPS electronic systems, case-related information, and members of the public being processed at the station. Gotsell described this as "deeply concerning" and questioned why the constable had been permitted to work at the same charge office from which the docket was allegedly removed.
Gotsell further claimed that some of Diko's colleagues were uncomfortable and did not feel safe working alongside him, particularly given the alleged connection between the matter and known gang figures in the area. The MP said he had requested information during his oversight visit about Diko's charge-office duties during the first weekend after his return to the station. However, he was reportedly told that the information would be provided by email, which was not received.
Gotsell has asked the national SAPS leadership to intervene and assist Parliament in obtaining detailed information about Diko's duties, system access, and the decisions surrounding his return to work. Among the information requested is confirmation of the dates and times Diko performed charge-office duties, as well as a list of criminal complaints and cases reported at Delft SAPS while he was on duty.
The MP has also requested a list of people who were arrested, detained, released on warning or police bail, or otherwise processed through the station during those periods. Additionally, he wants confirmation of which electronic systems Diko was authorised to access following his return, whether his access was restricted, suspended, or monitored, and whether an audit was conducted of his electronic activity, docket access, and other case-related activities.
Gotsell also wants SAPS to identify the official who authorised Diko's return to duty and deployment in the charge office, and to disclose whether a risk assessment was conducted before that decision was made. He has called for clarity on Diko's current duties and the safeguards in place to prevent him from accessing dockets, evidence, or information that could compromise criminal investigations.
Gotsell warned that, should he not receive the requested information about Diko's charge-office duties and the cases and individuals processed during those periods by close of business on Monday, 12 October 2024, he would personally visit Delft SAPS the following day to inspect the relevant registers. He emphasised that the concern is straightforward: a police member accused of selling a docket to a person linked to gangsterism was allowed to return to the same station and work with SAPS systems and case-related processes.
Key points
- MP Nicolas Gotsell demands answers from national police leadership over Delft police constable's return to duty amid alleged docket-sale case.
- Concerns raised about the integrity of police dockets and the administration of justice.
- Gotsell requests detailed information about the constable's duties, system access, and the decisions surrounding his return to work.
