Union slams City of Ekurhuleni over mass dismissals of EMPD officers

Municipal employees and civil servant union leadership expressed shock at the CoE’s decision to summarily dismiss hundreds of officers two months after a strike and demonstration outside the council chambers on March 19.

The protest aimed to highlight long-standing grievances related to salary adjustments.

“This decision is underpinned by ulterior motives to intimidate officers and distract from the legitimate demand for salary adjustments,” said Vuyile Mlungwana of the Municipal and Essential Services Civil Union (MECSU).

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The union issued this statement after the city initiated disciplinary action against 389 EMPD officers for their involvement in what it termed “an illegal strike and the blockade of major highways”.

According to the city, the officers face pre-dismissal processes for serious misconduct, including obstructing the R21, N12, N17, and N3 highways on March 19.

“This unlawful action severely disrupted traffic flow, inconvenienced thousands of commuters and hindered access to OR Tambo International Airport, a national key point, resulting in flight delays and broader regional disruption,” said city spokesperson Zweli Dlamini.

He emphasised that EMPD officers are classified as essential service workers and are legally prohibited from striking.

“Their participation constitutes gross misconduct, erodes public trust and violates the labour laws outlined in the Labour Relations Act,” he said.

All affected officers were issued pre-dismissal notices and suspended pending the outcomes of their disciplinary hearings.

Verification
Dlamini confirmed the figures when asked by the Germiston City News about the accuracy of the reported number of suspensions and the potential operational impact.

“The current number of 389 officers is based on verified internal investigations and personnel records,” he said.

“Verification was done using attendance registers, duty rosters, CCTV and drone footage, GPS tracking of municipal vehicles, and statements from senior officers.

“The process is ongoing, and additional officers could face disciplinary measures as more evidence emerges.”

Police support

When asked if temporary officers would be brought in to address the manpower shortage, the city said it would rely on existing partnerships with the SAPS.

“The support we receive from the SAPS is sufficient,” said Dlamini.

“We activated contingency plans immediately, which included redeploying available EMPD resources and enhancing collaboration with the SAPS under a standing memorandum of understanding for joint deployments.”

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He added that the SAPS had committed additional resources to support law enforcement in high-crime and traffic-sensitive areas during this period.

Union questions motives

Mlungwana questioned the rationale behind what he called “mass summary dismissals”, particularly after the city had acknowledged the officers’ grievances.

“Engagement meetings were held with officer delegates to address their concerns, and the city undertook to conduct a benchmarking process to resolve the salary adjustment issue within six months,” he said.

“By moving forward with dismissals despite this agreement, the city is undermining the intervention of the MEC for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Jacob Mamabolo.”

Mlungwana accused the city of being dishonest regarding the events of March 19.

“At the time, the city gave a clear instruction for all officers gathered in Germiston to cease the strike and return to work. The officers complied and resumed their duties,” he said.

“In light of this compliance, we believe the employer is not justified in its decision to impose summary dismissals. “This move appears motivated by ulterior purposes rather than due process.”