EMPD officer accuses his employers of discrimination

Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD)’s officer Kgoputso Mampane is concerned about what he believes is discrimination, favouritism, nepotism and inequality within the department.

Speaking to The Tembisan, Kgoputso said many candidates within the EMPD who do not meet the minimum requirements, hold high-rank positions.

“I do not understand how the EMPD shortlist candidates. A rotation of positions within the EMPD has become a norm regardless of required qualifications and experience. Some people are clueless to perform certain duties but they are holding the high positions,” added Kgoputso.

Tembisa-based Kgoputso, who holds a diploma in Metropolitan and Traffic Policing and law degree said he served in the EMPD for more than eight years without promotion.

“I’ve hoped for a promotion and also applied for advertised positions but I never got shortlisted or informed why I did not make it. I know I got passed for several promotions for many years even though I hold the relevant qualifications and have experience in the law enforcement. It is sad that I am over qualified and they cannot consider some of us,” said Kgoputso.

Kgoputso, who has worked as a trained soldier for Umkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans Association (MKMVA) and member of the South African National Military Veterans Association, claimed new candidates from the EMPD academy quickly found themselves in high-ranking positions.

“It is shameful to earn the same salary as a person who just arrived from college. I disputed other people’s promotions but ended up nowhere. Why are they not considering the services of military veterans (the people who fought for apartheid) but only the services of people who worked for the apartheid government?

“From top management to the prison commanders, they just appoint their own people and do not follow the applicable laws in terms of the Public Service Act,” added Mampane.

This former legal practitioner said he was promised a position deserving of his qualification at the EMPD legal department for many years but it never materialised.

He said he lodged numerous complaints with EMPD management but to no avail.

Mampane says he has qualifications to prosecute from the National Prosecuting Authority of South Africa.

“They do not want to take me to the municipal court to practice as a state municipal prosecutor in terms of the prosecuting authority act that authorises each and every person who has been authorised to prosecute, to do so. I feel my rights have been affected in terms of Section 33 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (Act 108 of 1996 – the act).”

He said he even approached former Ekurhuleni mayor Mondli Gungubele, current mayor Mzwandile Masina and MMC for Public Safety Vivian Chauke after he had realised EMPD management was not fulfilling their promises.

“Why should they issue bursaries worth millions of rands for people to study if they are not going to consider the qualification?” he asked.

Although The Tembisan has sent an enquiry to the EMPD, at the time of going to print no comment has been received.