The Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Community Safety has expressed concern over the suspension of more than 300 EMPD officers following their alleged involvement in an illegal strike earlier this year.

The officers were suspended after their participation in a protest on March 19, which severely disrupted traffic on key highways and affected access to OR Tambo International Airport.

While the Committee recognises the City of Ekurhuleni’s right to discipline employees involved in serious misconduct, it warned that the sudden loss of such a large number of officers could compromise public safety, law enforcement, and traffic management across the metro.

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“The mass suspension of these officers poses a significant risk to public safety and the enforcement of municipal by-laws,” said Honourable Bandile Masuku, Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee.

Calls for urgent contingency measures

The Committee urged the City to act swiftly by implementing contingency measures to limit the impact of the suspensions. One possible solution includes requesting support from other Gauteng municipalities in terms of inter-jurisdictional agreements, which allow municipal law enforcement officers to assist in crime prevention and traffic control outside their own jurisdictions.

Need for swift dispute resolution

The Committee also called on the City to expedite the resolution of the ongoing labour dispute, warning that a prolonged standoff could further strain municipal services and worsen community safety concerns.

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“A long-term impasse will only deepen service delivery challenges and leave residents more vulnerable,” the Committee said.

The Portfolio Committee on Community Safety affirmed its commitment to closely monitoring developments and working to ensure that policing and safety in Gauteng remain a top priority.