The Western Cape High Court has ordered that security detail for axed top cop Jeremy Vearey be reinstated immediately.
The order was made on Thursday after Vearey submitted an urgent application on July 5 to have a decision by Provincial Commissioner Tembekile Phathekile to remove his security reviewed and set aside.
Patekile announced on 24 June that Vearey’s security was to be withdrawn.
In an affidavit, Vearey stated that the removal of his security detail after his dismissal by Sitole in May would compromise his testimony in an upcoming high-profile “guns to gangs” criminal matter.
“It cannot be excluded that the purpose of withdrawing my protection is to discourage me from testifying in high-profile criminal matters scheduled to take place as a result of my investigations.”
“My change in employment status does not change the prevalence of the threats against myself,” said Vearey.
The Western Cape High Court ordered that two TRT officers must be assigned to guard him, while he waits for the outcome of his Safety and Security Sectoral Bargaining Council hearing, challenging his dismissal.
“Where the applicant is required to attend at court for the purposes of testifying and for any necessary travel, by prior arrangement, the [national police commissioner] and [provincial commissioner] will provide the applicant with four members of the Tactical Response Team for these purposes,” Judge Vincent Saldanha ordered.