City traffic head suspended
THE City of uMhlathuze has suspended its Head of Public Safety and Security, Zolile Poswa, who is reportedly facing a string of disciplinary charges. These range from alleged failure to process overtime pay for his staff since last December, to authorising a guard of honour at the funeral of an employee who had murdered someone at a workplace.
City Manager, Nkosenye Zulu confirmed Poswa’s suspension and explained that other charges are still under investigation.
“There were unauthorised expenses incurred by the municipality. The Council policy regarding a guard of honour stipulates that Council must approve. In this case, Poswa made the decision unilaterally and the acting municipal manager was not aware of this,” he said.
Leading up to the suspension
The suspension of the city’s top cop comes after official opposition party councillors wrote a letter to Council Speaker, Cllr Tobias Gumede.
They demanded to know who had approved a guard of honour by uMhlathuze traffic officers in Jozini for the late bodyguard, Ntokozo Mthembu, who was attached to the City Mayor, Cllr Xolani Ngwezi.
Mthembu was killed shortly after shooting to death his colleague, Simo Zulu at the Richards Bay Civic Centre on 28 March.
Zulu was also the son and bodyguard attached to City Manager Nkosenye Zulu.
ANC Councillor Phiwe Mhlongo says, “The letter dated 8 April was submitted to the speaker's office, but he had not acknowledged it or responded. Gumede is always like that; he has never responded to our letters as a speaker, he lacks impartiality.”
In addition to questioning the send-off ceremony, Mhlongo wrote, “What good deed was he being honoured for, and why hasn’t the Council said more about this tragic incident? Further to that, what security measures are being taken to prevent this decaying situation from happening again?”
City communications manager Bongani Gina confirmed that the letter had been received and that the speaker would respond after deliberation.