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The chief of police has volunteered to take leave until an investigation by an independent legal firm is complete, and metro policemen are back at work.
THE week-long strike by Johannesburg metropolitan police department (JMPD) officers is finally over.
Chief of metro police, Chris Ngcobo, has taken voluntary leave
The strike ended on Monday, 9 February after the chief of police, Chris Ngcobo, volunteered to go on leave pending the outcome of an investigation of alleged corruption.
Ngcobo's move comes after JMPD workers downed tools on Monday, 3 February demanding that he be redeployed, the suspension of two senior employees from the department, and that pensioners are not re-employed.
According to Nthatisi Modingoane, the City spokesperson, Ngcobo has "voluntary recused himself" from the department while he is being investigated.
"The City has engaged the services of an independent legal firm to investigate various allegations."
He said the South African Municipal Workers' Union (Samwu) was given permission to strike by the Labour Court based on three demands:
- That the chief superintendent of internal affairs be suspended;
- That the deputy director of internal affairs be suspended; and
- That the JMPD should not re-engage pensioners.
"The City met these demands and ... representatives from the City met with Samwu on Monday, 9 February to discuss the union's demands in respect of the chief of police and came to these conclusions so that vital services should resume to the public. We trust that the issues will be resolved through this independent investigation," Modingoane said.
Dumisani Langa, the union's Johannesburg secretary, said everyone was back at work today. "On Monday, 9 February everyone was told to go back to work as we are happy with the latest events."
Modingoane explained that JMPD employees and Samwu members were invited to give relevant information and evidence to the investigators.
"The City will consider alternative arrangements for residents whose drivers' licences and learners' licences appointments were cancelled because of the strike action."
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