The Star reports that the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) has a new acting executive director of public safety following the appointment of its police chief David Tembe.  

He will be in the position for three months, while the acting police chief will be Sam Sethagu.  But, the SA Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) said this was a move to facilitate and give powers to the chief to lift the suspension of two officers.  The pair were placed on suspension earlier this year, but took their grievance to an independent mediator, who found that the chief of police did not have the powers of suspension.  The two officers were subsequently reinstated.  The City denied that the appointment of Tembe was a move to re-suspend the two officers.  Meantime, about 68 senior officers have logged grievances against the police chief.  The City indicated that the parties were to meet on 24 May to agree on the name of the person who should be appointed to proceed with the hearing against Tembe.

• Read the full original of the report by Anna Cox on this story on page 2 of The Star of 21 May 2019

Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page