“I am a man of action.”
These are the words of the newly appointed Chief of Police for Ekurhuleni, Bafana Andries Mahlabe.
Mahlabe’s appointment was announced on Thursday, at the Germiston Civic Centre, by executive mayor of Ekurhuleni Clr Mondli Gungubele.
“It has taken us over a year to fill this position, because we were looking for the most relevant person, a person who understands the dynamics of the city and has a clear vision of how to win the battle against crime,” Gungubele explained.
He shared his confidence that the right man had been appointed to the position when he said: “After an extensive and rigorous interview process I am confident that Mahlabe is the right man for the job.
“During the interviews he showed us that he has what it takes to take the metro into the future.”
After the official announcement was made, Mahlabe, who hails from Duduza, was given the opportunity to share his plans for his 100 days.
“In my first 10 days in office we have already apprehended three, most wanted, criminals linked to police killings, cash-in-transit heists and armed robbery,” he said.
“I am also rolling out operation bumper to bumper.
“The critical areas I need to focus on, as they were highlighted in the State of the City Address earlier this year, are illegal miners, copper cable theft, a festive strategy, hijackings, land grabbing, drug peddling with special focus on CBDs, violent crimes, service delivery protests, traffic control and by-law enforcement.”
Mahlabe intends to turn the EMPD and safety of the metro around with a 10-point action plan.
The 10 focus points are: discipline enforcement, transformation and professionalisation, depoliticising the department, radical crime combating and corruption, a proactive crime prevention strategy, visible/active policing, improved community safety and health stakeholder relations, effective traffic law and by-law enforcement, optimal utilisation of resources and making the EMPD a world class entity.
Mahlabe assured the residents of the metro that he does not plan to be a figure head, behind a desk; instead he plans to be on the streets making a difference.
“I am taking back the streets for the citizens of the metro and will leave no stone unturned,” he stated.
The DA has questioned Mahlabe appointment, citing that the appointment is a direct contravention of the SAPS Act.
The Act states that council may only appoint a member of the service as its head.
Mahlabe is not a member of the EMPD.
A further concern brought forward by the DA was Mahlabe’s record of violence.
The DA claims evidence of this was shown when he orchestrated the invasion of the Ekurhuleni Council Chambers in Germiston last year (2014).
Gungubele responded to the claims, saying: “This man’s appointment comes after an intense scrutinising process; he is not a risk to state security.
“That has been clarified and is not an issue.
“As Mahlabe is not a member of the EMPD the metro is following all necessary processes as defined in the Police Act to ensure that the appointment is in accordance with the law.”
Gungubele stated that the DA knows what processes to follow if they have a complaint and encouraged them to back up the claims made.
