The Star reports that Johannesburg metro police officers have vowed to shut down their headquarters in Village Main next week.  Some 40 officers, including 18 senior superintendents, have been suspended and are awaiting to receive formal charges.  

This follows months of unhappiness within the department after the suspension of two senior officers, directors Sipho Dlepu and David Lekota, who were eventually reinstated after it was found that chief of police David Tembe did not have the powers to suspend.  Although the two officers were subsequently reinstated, this led to a rift within the ranks and some 68 senior officers lodged grievances against Tembe.  City spokesperson Nthatisi Modingoane confirmed the suspensions, saying they were related to an illegal work stoppage by the officers on 28 February.  Regarding the grievances against Tembe, Modingoane said the hearing was ongoing.  A source told The Star that the new suspensions were of officers “who asked too many questions” and indicated as follows:  “We will shut down the JMPD headquarters if the illegitimate suspensions are not lifted.”  SA Municipal Workers’ Union spokesperson Jack Mokalapa, confirmed the suspensions and said they “smacked of victimisation” of those who were opposing Tembe.  He said the union was in negotiations with the bargaining council and would take all the cases to the Labour Court, if not resolved.

• Read the full original of the report on the above by Anna Cox at The Star

Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page