Acting Chief of Police Basil Nkhwashu recently implemented various directives and other internal measures to “restore discipline, command, control, and ethics within the Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD)” following numerous complaints from the public who have fallen victim to corrupt and often intimidating officials.
Moreover, Nkhwashu instructed motorists pulled over by TMPD officers to “fight possible corruption” by recording all their interactions through pictures and videos, and asking them for their appointment certificate – the card identifying them as a police officer – which must be on their person.
Active resistance
Now, barely two weeks after these measures were put in place, the City of Tshwane MMC for Community Safety, Grandi Theunissen, said he is “deeply concerned about indications that there is active resistance” against the new rules by both upper management and lower-level TMPD officials.
“These decisions and measures are all focused on ensuring a safe, ethical, and disciplined working environment for the benefit of the public and TMPD,” he said.
“Although this does not come as a surprise, I am disheartened by manifestations of active and passive resistance against these ongoing attempts by the acting Chief of Police.”
Theunissen said that instead of the whole senior management circle rallying around the Chief of Police to restore the image of the TMPD, which has been tarnished by the criminals among them, they have done exactly the opposite.
“What concerns me even more is the alleged involvement of some of SAMWU’s (South African Municipal Workers Union) representatives in something that I can only describe as support of criminal activities and a smear campaign against the acting Chief of Police,” said Theunissen.
“I would have expected the unions to welcome the interventions, which are aimed at improving their members’ working conditions and reputation, and to constructively engage the City and the acting Chief of Police in this process. While I respect the unions and the role that they play, I want to caution against attempts to co-manage the TMPD.”
Theunissen said the City welcomes constructive engagement with all stakeholders on these matters, and reassured the public that the City will continue “to clean up the TMPD with the full support of the Executive Mayor and our coalition government.”
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