DA questions Mariemuthoo’s leave

The DA Johannesburg East Constituency Head, Jack Bloom, brought the commander’s absenteeism to light, after he claimed to receive an official response from the Community Safety MEC, Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane.

According to Bloom, the MEC said the leave days consisted of 70 days of vacation leave, 22 days sick leave, and 64 days temporary incapacity leave, which is due to a knee injury.

“Any information received from the MEC, is information received from the SAPS,” said the MEC’s spokesperson, Thapelo Moiloa.

Although Moiloa said Mariemuthoo qualified for the sick leave, Bloom questioned the severity of a knee injury resulting in a 64-day leave period.

“I fail to see why a knee injury should lead to 64 days leave,” he said.

“This means that he was absent for more than 30 per cent of the time.”

According to Bloom, the way to reduce crime is to have a strong leadership structure.

“He is a poor example at this police station, which suffers from a 14 per cent general absenteeism rate.”

However, Moiloa responded by saying the police station did not fall apart.

“The station made a plan to compensate for the leave; it does not take one person to run a station.”

Moiloa further explained that doctor-patient confidentiality also applies to police officers.

“The doctor diagnosed him, and the diagnosis was that he should stay off for more days than what he qualified for,” said Moiloa.

“Any conversation that happens between a doctor and their patient should be confidential.”

Despite the high amount of leave days taken, he also said that it is the responsibility of every station to visit any officer on a daily basis, should they be on sick leave.

“The station visited Mariemuthoo, and he was indeed sick,” said Moiloa

“Therefore, no investigation has or will be done regarding his leave.”

“Every member who has been working with SAPS for more than 10 years receives 30 days of annual leave,” said SAPS Priority Crime Investigation spokesperson Brig Hangwani Mulaudzi.

Mulaudzi said police officers are not immune to illnesses and their health is also important.

Mariemuthoo also had a record of a high number of leave days during his time at the Benoni Police Station.

“I can confirm that he took 106 sick days, 39 study days and one or two days of annual leave during his time at the Benoni Police Station,” Moiloa said.

The SAPS’s acting provincial head of corporate communication, explained that all sick leave is approved by the national office.

“A total of 36 days are allocated to each member and this is to be utilised within a three-year period,” said Col Noxolo Kweza.

“If those days are exhausted, a member can then apply for temporary incapacity leave.”

Attempts to contact Mariemuthoo were unsuccessful.