Sunday Tribune reports that an eThekwini metro police officer, and his two co-workers, got fired for greeting his boss with “Good morning, mlungu,” while the boss who referred to him by the k-word got a slap on the wrist.  

However, all parties have denied using the derogatory words and the matter was last week taken on appeal.  The outcome was expected on Tuesday.  Constable Siyabonga Mzobe was found guilty of calling Captain Shane Spilsbury an mlungu, while Sphamandla Madida and Mthembeni Mtshali were found guilty of making a false statement on an affidavit, denying that the captain was referred to as an “mlungu” and averring that the latter had used the k-word.  The matter dates back to 2016 when a complaint was laid against Spilsbury for allegedly using the k-word.  He opened a counter claim and alleged he was called “mlungu”, while working at the Queensburgh police station.  The internal disciplinary charge sheet found that the word “mlungu” was derogatory.  SA Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) representative Joe Mabaso claimed that proper procedures were not followed in the disciplinary hearing against the three dismissed officers.  He elaborated:  “The hearing against Spilsbury was fast and hush-hush; we heard he was slapped with a warning.  The hearing against the three officers was not done properly because they were not part of it.  The hearing went ahead without their knowledge.”

• Read this report by Siphelele Buthelezi in full at Sunday Tribune

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