The suspension of nearly 400 traffic police officers in the City of Ekurhuleni has raised concerns that motorists may now be more vulnerable to crime and less inclined to follow the rules.
Ekurhuleni, which is home to some four million residents, this week handed pre-dismissal letters to 389 traffic officers for their participation in illegal strike action earlier this year.
In March, Ekurhuleni Metro Police (EMPD) officers went on strike for better working conditions and salaries, closing down major highways such as the N3, N17, and R21 in doing so.
As they are viewed as essential workers, it is illegal for police to go on strike in South Africa.
Section 41 of the South African Police Service Act explicitly forbids members of the police force from striking or inducing their peers to strike.
It also empowers the National or Provincial Commissioner to summarily dismiss members of the South African Police Services who strikes or conspires with another to strike.
The EMPD officers who participated in the protest were consequently suspended from duties and barred from accessing certain police facilities.
They were also ordered to hand over their service vehicles which they used to block off the roads.
The officials were given 48 hours to respond to the accusations, and should they be able to justify their actions, they may still be allowed to retain their job.
Immediate solutions required
The Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Community Safety has urged the City of Ekurhuleni to implement immediate contingency measures to mitigate the impact of the suspensions.
The Committee acknowledged Ekurhuleni’s responsibility to take disciplinary action against employees implicated in serious misconduct.
However, it said the mass suspension of these officers “poses a significant risk to public safety, traffic management, and the enforcement of municipal by-laws.”
“The sudden reduction in law enforcement capacity may leave residents vulnerable and exacerbate challenges in maintaining order on the roads and in communities across the city.”
It noted that the metro could seek temporary reinforcement from other municipalities in Gauteng.
This will be in line with the existing agreement that allows Municipal Police and Traffic Officers to operate beyond their jurisdictional boundaries to assist in crime prevention and traffic management.
“Furthermore, the Committee calls on the City of Ekurhuleni to expedite the resolution of the ongoing labour dispute to ensure the swift resumption of critical policing services,” it said.
“A prolonged impasse between the municipality and its employees will only deepen service delivery challenges and undermine public safety.”
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