Metro police appointments are politically motivated – Samwu
JOBURG - The South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU) voiced their sadness with what they called, “Sustained attacks on the gains of the democracy by those who have turned Metro police into their primary target to further their career and business interests”.
Samwu’s legal officer Tshepo Motaung said there was a distorted narrative of cadreship at Metro police in particular and in local government in general.
Motaung alleged that there were “unlawful and mind-boggling appointments of politically connected people to senior positions at the Metro police”. “These appointments are neither informed by Employment Equity considerations, nor economic sense, but are solely based on political patronage,” he said.
He added that these actions had a detrimental effect on staff morale and had similarly grave implications on service delivery. “These false cadres with an ill-conceived sense of entitlement have entrenched a culture of fear at Metro police, to an extent of even prescribing to the city manager.”
Motaung also alleged that the appointment of Phumelelo Maphumulo as Metro police director of internal affairs was conveniently disguised as an employment equity appointee.
In response, Metro police spokesperson, Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar said his department took note of Samwu’s concerns. He added that Chief of Police Banzi Nyanda had an open door policy which he wanted to use to invite Samwu to discuss their grievances. Nyanda did not want the service to the community to be compromised, and he encouraged the union to utilise the existing channels of communication such as the local labour forum to find solutions.
