Show of force over cop cars
FRIDAY AUGUST 04 2017 DAYS after the former head of the Durban Metro Police Eugene Nzama, took early retirement his 20 “bodyguards” stormed the eThekwini metro police headquarters demanding to use their official vehicles.
Since Nzama left these men had been deployed elsewhere in the unit, resulting in them having to return the Toyota RunXs and Golf GTIs they had used.
City manager Sipho Nzuza met senior officials yesterday for a debriefing on the two-hour standoff.
Nzama apparently left his post on Monday after early retirement negotiations with the municipality.
Steve Middleton, the deputy head of metro police, was appointed acting head.
A metro police source close to the incident said about 20 men who had worked as Nzama’s bodyguards stormed the offices and demanded the use of the vehicles despite their boss leaving yesterday.
“It was surprising and scary. They would have none of it when they were told they could no longer use the vehicles.
“They are no longer in that same office so it is strange that they would still want to use the same vehicles as if they still worked under Nzama,” said the officer.
The stand-off apparently became quite tense while human resources tried to reason with them. The former bodyguards apparently had their hands on their guns, ready to react, while the other police officers also did the same, ready to defend themselves. Middleton and Superintendent Sbonelo Mchunu, the metro police’s spokesperson, confirmed the incident.
“They all used to be his (Nzama) entourage,” Mchunu said. Reacting to the stand-off, Zwakele Mncwango, DA provincial leader, believed the issue was factional.
Nzuza said: “I was shocked when I heard about the chaos from the acting head. I’ll meet the management for a report. I don’t want to politicise this. The report will guide me on what to do. I’m not a politician, but an administrator.
“We evaluate people’s performances and give to people what’s due to them. I’m here to work and I expect all of us to do the same,” he said.