The Star reports that after years of dispute over the appointment of the chief of the Joburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) David Tembe, he has finally left his post through a mutually agreed separation agreement.  

The details of his departure are not known as both parties have signed a confidentiality agreement.  Sipho Dlepu, who has 36 years of service with the JMPD, is now the acting chief of police.   In January, after the ANC won the city back from the DA, Public Safety MMC Mally Mokoena was secretly recorded ordering the head of department, William Mazibuko, to immediately place Tembe on suspension during a meeting with 13 officers who were expressing their grievances after being suspended by Tembe.  The officers were recently recalled by ANC administrators who alleged they had not been properly trained.  There are currently two ongoing investigations - an internal one and a criminal one.  About 68 senior officers logged a grievance against Tembe last year citing allegations of misconduct.  After the grievance was logged, two officers were suspended, including Dlepu, but were later reinstated because Tembe did not have the authority to suspend them.  The second hearing relates to other complaints against Tembe and was scheduled to be heard in April last year, but was continually postponed.

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

Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page