UPDATE: Police on strike during hearing
DOUGLASDALE - A group of Douglasdale police officers decided to strike on 29 January while a police disciplinary hearing was taking place at the station.
The aim of the hearing is to determine the outcome of allegations of racism that surfaced at the station in August last year. At the time, a group of Douglasdale police officers accused the management of the station of being biased towards white officers, and said black officers were not being promoted.
Douglasdale Community Policing Forum (CPF) chairperson, Jean Berdou referred to the allegations as a labour dispute rather than a racial dispute. Last year, other members of the Douglasdale Police Station suggested that the racial allegation arose because the station management had been dealing with issues of discipline and insubordination from junior staff members.
On 29 January the group of officers sat on the steps of the Client Service Centre at the entrance of the station and refused to work.
As a result it was all hands on deck for the station who utilised every available officer, even sector managers, so that the community would not be affected by the strike.
A police officer who was striking was approached for comment, however he said he was not obligated to speak to the media. He also denied that the strike action was a protest, but said the group of officers would not do any work until a judgement was made in the hearing.
Major-General Oswald Reddy, commander of the Honeydew cluster, arrived at the station for the hearing which also included Douglasdale station commander Brigadier Leon Kruger.
Berdou said the CPF was aware of the strike and the allegations, however the matter was subject to legal process, which is currently taking place. “We urge all parties to respect this process and allow it to be completed,” he said. “We are anxious for finality in the matter as soon as possible to provide certainty for all involved.”
Berdou added that the CPF was mindful that normal policing operations for the protection of the community must continue, and was grateful to learn that members of the community have not been prevented from interacting with the police. “We are committed to ensuring that this matter is given the utmost priority by the parties that are concerned and hope the matter is resolved soonest.”
Read our previous stories:
Racism allegations surface at station
Douglasdale police protest over labour dispute
