According to Michele Clarke, from the DA, for more than five months, many EMPD units have been unable to issue fines or summonses to individuals who disobey the law.
“This follows the recent Community Safety Oversight Committee Meeting, during which the metro’s Chief of Police, Hlula Msimang, 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,” she says.
Clarke adds that 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.
“EMPD officers are unable to fine offenders, which make them look weak and ineffective.
“Not only does this lower morale amongst officers, it also makes metro residents vulnerable to crime as criminals do not take law enforcement officers seriously,” says Clarke.
She adds that the absence of a tender to issue summonses is causing a massive loss of income that could have been allocated to other policing projects.
“Weak leadership in the ruling party has seen the metro become vulnerable to criminals and uncollected income sees the continued downward spiral of service delivery.
“The DA demands that Msimang puts in place a plan of action that will never see the department waiting this long for the vital tools police need to carry out their duties.”
Supt Wilfred Kgasago, spokesperson for the EMPD, was contacted for comment.
At the time of going to print no comment had been received.
