• Gauteng’s safety committee says the City of Ekurhuleni must quickly fix its labour dispute with metro police officers.

• Nearly 400 officers face possible dismissal after going on strike over overtime cuts and pay concerns.

The Gauteng community safety committee has told the City of Ekurhuleni to quickly fix its fight with metro police officers before the streets are left unprotected.

The call comes after the City handed pre-dismissal letters to 398 Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) officers who went on an illegal strike on 19 March.

The officers blocked major highways using municipal vehicles. They were demanding salary adjustments after the City reduced their overtime hours from 40 to 16 a month, following failed talks with unions.

Since the strike, EMPD officers have slowed down their work, refused to show up during the Easter holidays, and police visibility has dropped.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) and Crime Prevention Wardens have stepped in to help keep things under control.

Committee chairperson Bandile Masuku warned that suspending hundreds of officers is dangerous.

“The sudden reduction in law enforcement capacity may leave residents vulnerable and exacerbate challenges in maintaining order on roads and communities,” he said.

Meanwhile, Tshepang Langa, secretary of the South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU) in Ekurhuleni, slammed the City’s decision.

He called it a “gross injustice” and “a chilling assault on the fundamental rights of workers”.

“It lays bare the municipality’s blatant disregard for fair labour practices and its utter unwillingness to engage with the legitimate grievances of its employees in a meaningful and constructive manner,” he said.

Langa said instead of talking to workers and trying to fix the problem, the City went for “the oppressive tactic of threatening mass dismissals”.

He called it a betrayal of justice and workers’ constitutional rights.

Pictured above: EMPD officers.

Image source: EMPD