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

Kempton Express reports that 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.

“The mass suspension of these officers poses a significant risk to public safety and the enforcement of municipal by-laws,” says Bandile Masuku, chairperson of the portfolio committee.

Calls for urgent contingency measures

The committee urged the metro to act swiftly by implementing contingency measures to limit the impact of the suspensions.

A possible solution is to request 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 jurisdictions.

Need for swift dispute resolution

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

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

The committee affirmed its commitment to closely monitoring developments and working to ensure that policing and safety in Gauteng remain a top priority.

Background: Illegal protest cripples key routes

On Monday, Kempton Express reported that pre-dismissal notices have been served to all 389 implicated officers, citing gross misconduct for participating in the unlawful strike.

The officers unlawfully blockaded critical highways, including:

• R24 westbound between OR Tambo and Electron Interchange
• N3 northbound between Heidelberg and Elands
• R21, N12 and N17.

The illegal action led to severe traffic congestion, major delays for thousands of commuters, and disruptions at OR Tambo International Airport, a national key point, where several flight schedules were affected.

“We strongly condemn this unlawful protest action, as it compromises public safety and disrupts the daily commute of thousands of residents and visitors,” Ekurhuleni Metro said at the time.

All officers have been suspended with immediate effect, pending disciplinary hearings.

They are required to surrender all city-issued property, including vehicles, firearms and access cards, while investigations are underway.

The city emphasised that EMPD officers fall under essential services, and their participation in the protest directly contravenes the Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995.

“This type of conduct undermines public trust, violates national labour laws and compromises critical services. It will not be tolerated,” says Ekurhuleni’s spokesperson Zweli Dlamini.

To ensure public safety, the city has activated a Memorandum of Understanding with the SAPS to supplement policing functions during the EMPD officers’ suspension.

“The City of Ekurhuleni has reaffirmed its stance on maintaining discipline, accountability and uninterrupted essential services, promising a thorough and fair process in dealing with all involved,” Dlamini adds.

‘A gross injustice’: Samwu fights back

Kempton Express also reported that the South African Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) in the Ekurhuleni region issued a strongly worded statement condemning the city’s decision to issue the pre-dismissal notices.

Samwu labelled the city’s move as a ‘gross injustice’ and an ‘assault on the fundamental rights of workers’.

The union expressed its concern over what it described as the municipality’s failure to address long-standing employee grievances and its unwillingness to engage in meaningful dialogue.

“Instead of choosing the path of dialogue, the municipality has opted for the oppressive tactic of threatening mass dismissals,” says Samwu Ekurhuleni Regional Secretary, Tshephang Langa.

Samwu contends that the protest was a symptom of unresolved and systemic issues within the department, calling it a ‘powerful manifestation of deep-seated and long-standing’ worker dissatisfaction.

The union is demanding:

• Immediate withdrawal of all pre-dismissal notices
• Suspension of disciplinary action
• Urgent, good-faith negotiations with city officials

“We will not stand idly while our members are victimised, scapegoated and punished for exercising their fundamental right to protest,” Samwu says.

The union has vowed to challenge the city’s actions through legal and industrial avenues, pledging full support for its members and warning of potential further action should the city fail to engage constructively.

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