Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia says he has not ignored Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis over a dispute about metro police powers. 

In August, Hill-Lewis declared an intergovernmental dispute with Cachalia under the Intergovernmental Relations Framework Act 13 of 2005. 

He accused the national government of delaying efforts to expand the investigative powers of the city’s metro police officers. 

Hill-Lewis said he formally declared the dispute after several unsuccessful attempts to resolve the matter through discussions. 

The dispute requires both parties to enter mediation in an effort to resolve the matter without going to court. 

He claimed the city’s attempts to expand the investigative powers of the metro had been ‘stonewalled’ over the past five years. 

In 2022, the city sent then minister of police Bheki Cele a comprehensive motivation and proposals outlining the request, but received no response. 

Hill-Lewis claimed the city had engaged successive police ministers over several years. He said he wrote to Cachalia immediately after he was sworn in last August. 

“At the acting minister’s request, we submitted detailed proposals for policing power regulations in addition to those that had already been issued for public comment,” said Hill-Lewis. 

“This led to several follow-up letters and engagements.” 

Hill-Lewis added he was hopeful progress was being made and wrote to Cachalia again in February to request an urgent way forward. 

“The acting minister wrote back in April, stating that a SAPS Act amendment would be needed, but failed to include this in the bill he recently tabled in Parliament,” explained Hill-Lewis. 

In a post on his Facebook page, Cachalia said Hill-Lewis had publicly stated that he ignored his correspondence relating to the dispute.  
 
“This is simply not the case. The matter requires internal consultation and consideration of appropriate advice before a formal response can be provided.” 

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