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INLSA
MEC Nomusa Dube. Picture:SANDILE MAKHOBA
Durban – The eThekwini Municipality has called for a wide-ranging investigation or commission of inquiry to deal with “deep-seated problems” in the city’s metro police.
Speaking after the release of the Manase progress report on Tuesday, mayor James Nxumalo said another “independent process” was needed.
“What forms part of that process is yet to be decided, but it has to be carried out to investigate all the issues within the police.”
The progress report also said the city was trying to find a “legally sound solution” to deal with the problems of leadership in the department after officers called for the removal of head Eugene Nzama.
They said he was “unfit to run the police department” and claimed he had given instructions for misuse and abuse of police vehicles and “harassed” taxi owners.
Nzama was also accused of using his own construction company in the building of the Albert Park police building.
His suspension was lifted last year after he took the city to court.
The report points to unhappiness in the department and says steps need to be taken to bring about “stabilisation of the environment” and to “restore morale and discipline”.
The Manase report stated that 30 trainee constables allegedly bought driving licences to get into the department.
Nxumalo said the licence scam was “wide-ranging” and involved traffic department officials. He said the case was now being investigated by the Hawks.
The progress report said eThekwini officers could be used as State witnesses to catch the kingpins involved in the syndicate.
The Anti-Corruption Task Team is also investigating the allegations against the officers.
There were also allegations that several high-ranking officers had relatives employed within the department, but no evidence of nepotism relating to these appointments could be found.
The probe found that 14 officers were allegedly taxi owners – a contravention of the department’s policies and national legislation which disqualifies them from holding taxi operator licences.
The officers were identified through outstanding fines ranging from R5 000 to R117 000 on their vehicles.
DA police spokeswoman Dianne Kohler Barnard said further investigations into the metro police could reveal bigger issues.
“I have visited police stations and there is no one employed there to verify matric certificates or driver’s licences,” she said.
She said a commission of inquiry was unnecessary and that it was a “delaying tactic” being used to further prolong the release of the full report.
The Mercury
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