EMPD cannot issue fines
A lack of fine- and summons-books at the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) is putting residents at risk.
This is because it is affecting the morale of the officers serving.
This comes from Bedfordview’s ward 20 councillor, Clr Michele Clarke.
She said in a recent metro community safety oversight committee meeting, the metro’s Chief of Police, Hlula Msimang, confirmed that for more than five months many EMPD units have been unable to issue fines or summonses to bylaw transgressors because they do not have the necessary documents.
“He was grilled about two major problems in the EMPD, namely the lack of fine- and summons-books and the absence of staff to capture and issue summonses. Msimang’s excuse that the tender to print these books had expired is unacceptable, as is the plan made to grant a ‘mini tender’ for the printing of five books per precinct as a stopgap measure.
“In a busy precinct these books would have been finished in a matter of days. In a well-run government, this type of poor management would not be tolerated. It is very simple to plan properly in order to advertise a new tender when the existing one is coming to an end,” said Clr Clarke.
She added that this has affected the morale of the officers and the safety of the residents.
“EMPD officers are unable to fine offenders, which makes them look weak and ineffective. Not only does this lower the morale amongst officers, it also makes metro residents vulnerable to crime as criminals do not take law enforcement officers seriously. The absence of a tender to issue the books is causing a massive loss of income that could have been allocated to other policing projects,” she said.
