Chaos erupted on major highways in Ekurhuleni this morning as striking metro police officers blocked key routes in protest over overtime cuts, leaving motorists stranded and sparking outrage among residents.

Traffic turmoil

Kempton Express reports the illegal strike by Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) employees caused severe congestion on major arterial routes, with traffic grinding to a halt:

🚦 R24 westbound – Between OR Tambo Interchange and Electron Interchange (heavy congestion).
🚦 N3 northbound – Between Heidelberg and Elands (all lanes affected, extensive delays).

Zweli Dlamini, the City of Ekurhuleni (CoE) spokesperson, said the metro strongly condemns the protest, saying the ‘unlawful’ action has compromised ‘public safety and disrupted the daily commute of thousands of residents and visitors’.

CoE is working with law enforcement agencies to restore order and has urged motorists to seek alternative routes, exercise patience and remain vigilant.

Political response

Another article by Kempton Express states that ward councillor Jaco Terblanche has urged Mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza and City Manager Dr Imogen Mashazi to act swiftly to prevent a weekend without EMPD officers on the ground.

“The EMPD is an essential service, and we call on striking members to honour the badge and return to duty to serve and protect the residents of Ekurhuleni,” said Terblanche.

He blamed the strike on financial mismanagement by the coalition-led CoE, which implemented austerity measures that significantly cut EMPD officers’ overtime pay, with some losing up to R8 000 per month.

“While the DA is cognisant that overtime pay should not be seen as a revenue source, abruptly cutting it has resulted in the protest action currently underway.”

He proposed two solutions:

• Filling all funded vacancies to prevent staff shortages and distribute the workload evenly.
• Implementing a three-shift rotational system for a more efficient and financially viable police force.

“Residents in the CoE deserve better than to live in a city where even policing is tainted by the failures of this coalition of chaos,” he added.

Public backlash

According to Pretoria Rekord, the protest has sparked debate on social media, with many criticising the officers for abandoning their duties. However, some have expressed sympathy, highlighting that many EMPD officers use their personal vehicles for crime-fighting efforts.

This is gross misconduct, which may lead to dismissals, because: Striking: EMPD officers cannot lawfully strike due to their classification as an essential service under the LRA and the South African Police Service Act. Any strike action would need to navigate significant…

— Cobus Coetzee (@cobusctz) March 19, 2025

Shame on you @City_Ekurhuleni

Police using their own resources (vehicles) to fight crime‼️‼️‼️

I stand with EMPD #istandwithempd https://t.co/ZOKUV5sZBQ

— Minister of Lawlessness ⚖️ (@nhlanhlaxulu4) March 19, 2025

CoE acknowledged the frustrations caused by the strike but defended its financial sustainability strategy, stating that the overtime reductions are part of a broader plan to ensure responsible fiscal management and efficient service delivery.

“The city apologises for the inconvenience and assures residents that it is committed to restoring normal traffic flow and stability as soon as possible,” Dlamini said.

EMPD demands https://t.co/1Krro29iOz pic.twitter.com/GPcePg09ad

— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) March 19, 2025

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