Hundreds of gatvol Cape Flats cops have gone on strike, leaving several police stations in gang hotspots with no manpower.
The unhappy officers traded their guns and badges for placards as they toyi-toyied through the city centre yesterday, calling for Police Minister Bheki Cele to address their concerns over recent promotions.
On Saturday, a large group of cops met in Khayelitsha where they discussed plans to leave the Community Service Centres empty on Monday.
Logs from various stations including Lansdowne and Philippi show staff called in sick or took family responsibility leave.
An officer at Philippi SAPS tells the Daily Voice: “Daar was f*kk** gister [Monday] en daar is f*kk** vandag [Tuesday].”
Nokuthula Ndzongana, deputy chairperson of the South African Police and Allied Workers Union (SAPAWU) says members are moeg of “Cele’s empty promises”.
“Last year they held promotions for special units but the members at the stations received nothing. We are finding that these babies [constables] who are here six months with no degrees are getting promotions to Warrant Officers because they are in special units,” Ndzongana explains.
“But those of us who are in the frontline get nothing. We are calling on the minister to clarify how this happened and what was the criteria for promotions.
“When those babies come back with their promotions, they are now on the same level as a warrant officer who has been a warrant officer for 20 years.
“How can that be? We met in Khayelitsha on Saturday and have 30 000 members now because the members are gatvol.”
A detective at Manenberg Police Station told the Daily Voice they were under severe pressure as several suspects arrested over the weekend could not attend court as there were no court orderlies.
Cele’s spokesperson, Reneilwe Serero, says 400 officers in the Western Cape and 120 officers in Kwa-Zulu Natal stayed out of work on Monday.
“The meeting held yesterday was to address the unhappiness at police station level, Cele met with 1147 station commanders, national and provincial management to further unpack and engage on the matter of promotions.
“The process of promotions will be reviewed going forward, a task team will be appointed to manage the process and give feedback in the coming three months.
On Tuesday, officers marched to Parliament where they handed over a petition.
Mitchells Plain Community Police Forum cluster chairperson, Lucinda Evans, says: “We recognise that members are frustrated but we also wish to say that the right to strike should not leave communities potentially at risk.
“There are alternative ways to deal with situations like these and we as the CPF are demanding the intervention of the Department of Labour.”
Community Safety MEC, Alan Winde, said Cele has “lost control” of the police service.