The Democratic Alliance has written to Acting Municipal Manager, Musa Mbhele, to request his urgent intervention in the Metro Police.
The Metro Police’s latest blunder comes after the Labour Court ruled that 40 of their vehicles be attached and auctioned to pay a debt owed to two officers. The officers concerned were owed millions by the Metro Police after the Bargaining Council ruled that they were more suitable for the Metro’s top job than current commissioner Steve Middleton. The Bargaining Council also ruled that Middleton’s appointment was irregular.
A simple question thus arose: if Middleton’s appointment was irregular, why was it not reversed?
It has become clear that despite many good officers within its ranks, the Metro Police has become deeply politicised. Middleton was a known backer of former Mayor Zandile Gumede, who openly supported his appointment.
The results have spoken for themselves. A leaked City Integrity and Investigation Unit (CIIU) report show rampant overtime and vehicle abuse within the unit. Cops who have used municipal vehicles to visit bottle stores, take their kids to school and generally have a great time. Those who have fraudulently claimed hundreds of hours of overtime received proverbial slaps on the wrist.
Metro Police officers routinely claim hundreds of millions of rands in overtime, blowing their budget year after year. Despite the CIIU report showing clear cases of overtime abuse, there were no harsh sanctions.
The unit further compromised its relationship with the public during the eThekwini riots by refusing to work with neighbourhood and community policing forums. Rather, communities were met by hostile officers intent on removing their only sources of protection. When the DA requested a meeting to find an amicable solution to the situation, Commissioner Middleton simply refused.
It is now clear that the Metro Police is in chaos. This chaos is proving increasingly costly and these costs are not making eThekwini residents any safer.
The City Manager must urgently intervene to prevent the auction of much-needed Metro Police vehicles and stabilise the unit.
The promised Safety Plan must be urgently tabled so that eThekwini residents can feel some semblance of safety after a month of madness.