Three traffics dismissed, one on final warning
Three of the four George traffic officers who took meat from a transportation truck after an accident in the Outeniqua
Pass in June 2023, resigned following a disciplinary hearing into serious allegations of misconduct. The fourth officer received a final written warning.
According to available information the hearing was finalised on Wednesday 3
April and the three officers resigned with immediate effect on Monday 8 April, returning all uniforms, firearms and other municipal property. Sanctions in the hearing were delivered on Friday 12 April.
In a media enquiry, George Herald asked if the municipality can confirm the dismissals and if the officers' resignation have been accepted since it was done after the hearing and after they were informed of the outcome.
George Herald also wanted to know why only one officer had received a final written warning while all four allegedly faced the same charges.
Municipal spokesperson Chantel Edward said George Municipality does not comment on staff-related matters.
Driving off with the meat
The internal investigation came after a meat transportation truck belonging to Husky Transport in Kimberley overturned in the pass on Saturday 17 June 2023.
The truck hit the mountain face after the driver lost control and with the impact, the refrigerated truck tore open and carcasses scattered across the road.
Earlier, J&B's legal representative, Eckert Brand of Brand & Van der Bergh Attorneys, said J&B Towing was tasked with clearing the scene, which involved removing the wreckage and cargo for insurance assessment.
Amid widespread looting, they struggled to contain the chaos while trying to clear the road. Municipal traffic officers allegedly arrived at the depot where the collected meat had been taken and watched as a portion of the meat was off-loaded. At that time they were informed that no meat could be removed without permission.
Subsequent correspondence later the same day between the assessor and the insurer revealed that the meat was considered contaminated and damaged, leading to its distribution among the community and the traffic officials, who loaded it into their official vehicles.
The three officers resigned with immediate effect on Monday 8 April.
Charges
All four officers faced charges of dishonesty, bringing the name of the municipality into disrepute, failure to declare receiving of goods from a member of the public or a service provider, removing private property without authorisation and the unauthorised use of a municipal vehicle.