Late last year members of the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) threatened to march in protest over certain members being overlooked for promotions in key positions within the department.
Clr Jaco Terblanche, Democratic Alliance (DA) member of the community safety oversight committee in Ekurhuleni, said that while the DA recognises the critical need for the right candidates to be appointed to strategic positions within the EMPD, they understand the frustration felt by many of the officers who were overlooked after serving within the department for so long.
“Many officers have served this metro for many decades, but continue to be overlooked for key positions,” he said.
“Officers with some 20 to 40 years of faithful service as constables are not receiving any promotions, while it is alleged that younger officers, straight from college in some cases, are walking into a position of rank due to certain ‘connections’ they may have within the EMPD.”
Terblanche said this has been going on since 2014.
“Individuals occupying positions within certain investigation units in other metros are not getting the same salaries and benefits as those in positions within the EMPD, which indicates a serious breach of equal work for equal pay.
“It is important for the metro to develop skills internally so as to promote candidates within our own ranks, which will contribute not only to efficiency but also to the morale within the EMPD, which has been at an all-time low since the metro came into effect in 2004,” said Terblanche.
He added that the EMPD plays a critical part in the functioning of the metro as a whole and that the correct training and career development for policing officials, therefore, need to be treated with the utmost importance in the interest of a thriving community.
“The DA will strive to improve working conditions within the EMPD, as well as revisit certain salary structures within the department to ensure a high level of morale all of which are crucial to the successful functioning of the EMPD,” Terblanche concluded.
