Two Tshwane Metropolitan Police Department (TMPD) officials have been dismissed after being found guilty of serious misconduct, including extortion.

Another five officers were issued with written warnings.

“We are duty-bound to use every avenue to ensure that officials who break the law face the necessary consequences,” says MMC for community safety Grandi Theunissen.

Theunissen says some of the officials will appear in court soon as suspects in criminal cases.

“The pair were dismissed after their disciplinary proceedings that started in February and August last year.”

Theunissen says last year’s city-wide strike delayed the cases, with one taking a year and the other six months to conclude.

“The illegal strike action placed an additional burden on the human resources department, which was key to the proceedings,” he explains.

He says regular meetings are held with relevant departments to ensure that misbehaviour and criminal actions are met with adequate and decisive action from the metro.

The meetings are supported by Mayor Cilliers Brink and the MMC for corporate and shared services, Kingsley Wakelin, who continue to work with the TMPD and the human resources department to ensure concerns are investigated and disciplinary proceedings start within acceptable times.

Theunissen says he has instructed recently appointed Chief of Police Yolanda Faro to bring back discipline and re-establish strong command and control.

“While this feat may seem like a drop in the ocean, it signifies an end to the era of impunity within the TMPD and I believe these outcomes will assist her to shape the department.

“Victims of crime at the hands of TMPD officials can open a criminal case at their nearest police station,” says Theunissen.

He encourages residents to report incidents to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate by emailing gauteng@ipid.gov.za or calling the TMPD integrity unit on 083 657 2998.