Union expecting Phiyega to testify

Solidarity approached the court in order to try and force the police to redeploy whistleblower Colonel Kobus Roos in a similar position.

 

"The time has come for national police commissioner Riah Phiyega to testify in Solidarity's lawsuit against the South African Police Service (SAPS) regarding Colonel Kobus Roos' appointment," head of Solidarity's centre for fair labour practices Dirk Groenewald said in a statement.

 

"The national commissioner finally has to explain in an open court why she does not want to appoint Colonel Roos in the crime intelligence unit even though there is a vacant post for him."

 

However, it was not clear if Phiyega would be in court on Monday.

 

"If she is required to go, she will go," SAPS national spokesman Solomon Makgale said on Sunday.

 

Roos, who has worked for the police for 26 years, was originally demoted by ex-crime intelligence boss Richard Mdluli, after he exposed corruption in the crime intelligence unit.

 

Mdluli removed Roos from his position as head of internal audit and placed him in the inspectorate and evaluation division of the union -- a post the union said was redundant.

 

In April, the Labour Court ordered the police to redeploy Roos to a similar position as the one he had before his demotion.

 

In the court ruling, the police were also ordered to pay Roos R156,250 in compensation, plus costs.

 

Groenewald on Sunday accused the SAPS of not complying with the earlier court ruling.

 

"It's a disgrace that the SAPS still has not complied with the court ruling and that no action has been taken thus far to rectify the injustice our member suffered."

 

However, Makgale said the police had fully complied with it.

 

"Firstly our view is that we complied fully with the court order.

 

"We've paid him everything. It also said he must be given his old job back and if it is not possible we should appoint him in an auditing environment which we have done."

 

He said Roos was currently working in the auditing division in Gauteng.

 

The court order also ruled that as soon there was promotion vacancy Roos should be promoted.

 

Makgale said there had not been a vacancy as yet.

 

"If the court requires us to come and explain how we have implemented the order we will do so," he said.

 

 

   (File photo: Gallo images)