By Nolwazi Dhlamini
EKURHULENI Metro has recommended that acting police chief, Major-General Isaac Jabulani Mapiyeye (55), be appointed as the new metro police chief.
When the previous chief, Bafana Mahlabe, resigned abruptly in November last year after serving for only a year, the metro began the process to replace him.
In the meanwhile, Mapiyeye was appointed to act in the position while a new chief was sought. Before that, he was the deputy chief of police for two years.
Of the five candidates who were shortlisted, Mapiyeye, alongside his fellow contender, Harold Zungu, were required to undergo competency tests after interviews conducted on February 2.
The EFF has expressed its concerns with the way the recommendation was made, calling it illegal and undemocratic.
“Ekurhuleni EFF condemns the mayor, the ANC caucus and their coalition partners on their undemocratic practices and illegal move to force the council to adopt and note the ANC Lekgotla’s recommendation to hire the current acting chief of police as the new head of the department,” the EFF said in a statement.
The EFF accused the ruling party of not following due procedure, as outlined by the Municipal System’s Act.
“It is not clear whether the position’s report was submitted to the MEC of local government for the recommendation to be approved as prescribed by the Municipal Systems Act. The EFF also questions the ANC’s hasty decision to table this matter in the council sitting for approval without the mayor obligating himself to the basic procedure of following the processes outlined by the Municipal System’s Act.”
“According to the standing orders of the council, such in-committee items cannot be smuggled in to be discussed and resolved in an extraordinary council sitting convened by the Speaker on Rule 18. Such in-committee items should be tabled under Rule 17 as prescribed by standing orders of the council.”
According to the EFF, they were kept in the dark regarding the various stages of the hiring of the new chief, from the interviews, to the psychometric results, to the short listing and the final stages. They also accused the ANC of “pushing” forward “their own candidates”.
“We also objected to the side-lining of more qualified candidates with regard to educational background and experience, but again the ANC coalition used their majoritarian politics to ignore the EFF.”
Mapiyeye has just over 25 years working experience, having spent eight of them as director of the EMPD’s technical and logistics department. Prior to this, he had spent almost six years as acting deputy chief of police at the logistics, municipal courts training academy. He was also previously a traffic officer for Benoni EMPD as well as a provincial traffic inspector at the Transvaal Provincial Administration.
Mapiyeye has a diploma in TPA traffic, a B-Tech degree in traffic safety management as well as a level 7 in public administration.
He is currently studying towards his masters in public management.
Also Read:
New EMPD call centre number released
EMPD catch man travelling at 216km/h on R24
EMPD officer nabs most wanted suspect
