Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department, under the leadership of Chief Msimang, has in many ways become a disgrace. The once proud metro police are fast becoming an entitled group of self-important underachievers. I requested their assistance the other evening to arrest suspects stealing council property.
When I arrived I saw that they had apprehended five suspects and where talking to them. I walked over introduced myself and then said that we should arrest and impound their vehicle. What I wasn’t expecting was for the metro police to turn on me and start shouting that I will not instruct them what to do and that they will teach me to respect the badge.
The net result is that they un-cuffed the suspects, got into their vehicle and left me alone and unarmed with the five suspects because according to them, I can arrest them myself.
This lack or respect towards councillors doesn’t just reside with street cops but with their superiors too, and as a member of the community safety oversight I can tell you that their attitude towards reporting and answering for their actions is both childish and inept. The sheer lack of regard and respect shown by the Chief himself leaves me with no doubt as to why the EMPD members how no respect.
What gets me the most, is that there are dedicated members, who aren’t corrupt and entitled, that work hard and risk their lives for our communities, that are being let down by their own leadership. They are being painted with the same brush of animosity because of the actions of uncaring and unprofessional coworkers.
So to the guys and girls in uniform that are honest and hardworking, I salute you; but to the rest, be aware that the community safety oversight is not going to take this lying down and change is coming, so shape up or ship out and stop embarrassing the members that actually believe in the badge.
