DA calls for axing of 250 Ekurhuleni metro cops with criminal records

The number was revealed in an Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department response to a question posed by the DA in council.

In 2022/23, the EMPD conducted a vetting process of all its officials.

A total of 3 449 fingerprints were taken and the results revealed that 250 had illicit activity recorded against their names, 167 already had criminal records and 83 are awaiting trial.

The DA's spokesperson for Community Safety in Ekurhuleni, Jaco Terblanche, said the party is concerned about the safety of residents.  

“These are very shocking statistics. How must the residents of Ekurhuleni feel safe? It is important that the municipality get rid of bad apples like these that is already involved in criminal activities.

“According to the South African Police Act, no police officer must be involved in criminal activities. The DA will do everything in their power to ensure that we have an ethical police force that is serving the people of Ekurhuleni”.      

However, EMPD spokesperson Kelebogile Thepa said they cannot just dismiss employees without following proper procedure.

“We are engaging with the human resource department and the labour relations division to determine the next course of action. We do understand that with the matter being sub judice case, it cannot be that a person will just do a dismissal but there would have to be various steps and processes followed that are in adherence with the policies and legislations that we have.

“We pride ourselves as a department. We cannot be having people within the department with criminal records expected to uphold the very same law which they are enforcing, and they are found to be in conflict with it."

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