05-02-2009
Johannesburg. The Johannesburg Region of the Anti-Privatisation Forum (APF) supports the strike by the South African Municipality Workers Union (SAMWU) and its call for the suspension of Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) chief, Chris Ncgobo and other senior officials within the JMPD. The APF-JHB further calls for the suspension of Mayoral Committee member for safety and security, Clr Phakathi, for his failure to track down corruption and the violation of human rights by the JMPD.
Chris Ncgobo has been a hawk in confronting community members who protest against poor service delivery in the City of Johannesburg. He has instructed members of JMPD to deploy maximum force to disperse peaceful protests. Hundreds of protestors in Kliptown, Orange Farm and Alexandra have been shot and injured by JMPD officers acting on Ngcobo’s instructions and under the cover of pan-faced Wayne Minnaar saying “the protestors started throwing stones.” Injured detainees have been refused medical attention in punishment for daring to protest and numerous communities, social movements and workers’ unions have been criminalised for exercising this basic constitutional right.
Corruption and nepotism has become business as usual at the JMPD under Ngcobo’s watch. The strike by SAMWU won the demand for the suspension of two managers for investigations of corruption to proceed. But we are disappointed that the demand for Ngcobo’s resignation was not conceded to in the settlement to end the strike reached yesterday between the union and the City. He has been the chief overseeing corruption in the JMPD. The APF-JHB hopes that SAMWU’s meeting with Gauteng ANC leaders today does not cow the union into withdrawing this demand.
The ANC is protecting the JMPD chief against calls for his resignation following the exposure of corruption in the city’s management of safety and security. The APF challenges the African National Congress and the City of Johannesburg to do justice and not another cover-up.
Sello M’Afrika Tladi APF, Johannesburg Regional Co-ordinator
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