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Chris Ngcobo will voluntarily step down as chief of the metro police following a week-long strike by officers.
Metro police chief, Chris Ngcobo, is voluntarily stepping down temporarily
AN acting chief of police will take up the reigns at the Johannesburg metro police department (JMPD) following the voluntary recusal of the current chief, Chris Ngcobo.
The City of Johannesburg called an urgent press conference at the metro police headquarters in Martindale on 10 February to confirm that Ngcobo would be stepping down temporarily to allow an investigation into allegations of nepotism, among other things.
This follows after more than 2 000 JMPD officers went on a week-long strike, demanding the suspension of two senior employees and that pensioners not be re-employed.
But officers have been baying for the blood of Ngcobo in particular, requesting that he step down or be redeployed.
Allegations have been levelled against Ngcobo, deputy director Abel Nkosi and Roodepoort testing station manager Koti Essau accusing them of corruption, nepotism and incompetence.
Speaking at the conference, a feisty Ngcobo described himself as an honest person and believed he would be back in his office in three months' time. But to clear the way for a proper investigation and to put a halt to the dragging strike, he felt he should remove himself from his chair.
"In one of the last meetings with the acting City manager, Dr Refik Bismilla, I offered to recuse myself from the JMPD leadership in the best interest of the community and so that metro police officers could return to duty and that they can serve the community," he said.
He feared that if the strike continued, it would become violent as his past experience had taught him.
Investigation under way
A stern Bismilla asked the media to refrain from having "a trial by media".
"Our country's Constitution and the City of Johannesburg believes an individual is innocent until proven guilty."
Describing Ngcobo as an honourable man, he said only issues based on fact would receive attention. "The due process must unfold … Where is the evidence?" he asked three times.
The executive director for legal compliance, Karin Brits, confirmed that an independent legal firm had already been instructed and it was investigating charges "as we speak".
"The terms of reference of the investigation is that any and all allegations made against the chief and the three employees will be investigated," she confirmed.
The process will take about three months. Ngcobo will remain in the service of the City and the City manager will decide in which capacity he should be deployed.
Demands met
The City had already acceded to the demands of the South African Municipal Workers' Union (Samwu) on 4 February, confirmed Joburg's spokesperson, Nthatise Modingoane, in a statement.
It agreed to end the hiring of pensioners, to suspend three employees accused of corruption and to appoint an independent investigation into the allegations of corruption.
During the press conference, brief mention was also made of Ngcobo's management style, which has also come under fire. "I believe in maximum discipline" he confirmed, adding that "policing is not for sissies".
In the meantime, the City confirmed that all striking officers were back at work and that special arrangements would be made to accommodate the licensing backlog.
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