Police ‘whistleblowers’ at OR Tambo charged
TEN senior police officers at OR Tambo International Airport who raised serious complaints against police management at the airport have been charged with various counts of misconduct.
Their disciplinary hearing was scheduled for two weeks ago, but was postponed and they are waiting for a new date.
The police officers — all of whom are lieutenant-colonels and occupy middle-management positions at the airport — lodged various grievances against their superiors, which include allegations of favouritism, ill-treatment, victimisation and the unfair allocation of resources.
More serious complaints such as drug exhibits and case dockets disappearing were also raised, with an independent police report on the working environment at the airport saying there was a “leadership crisis”.
The unhappiness at the airport’s police station started in 2013 when the group of police officers received letters saying they would be transferred to the provincial head offices in Parktown, Johannesburg.
The South African Policing Union stepped in and obtained a court order preventing its members from being transferred. The officers all say they were victimised after speaking out against problems at the airport.
One of the lieutenant-colonels, who asked not to be named because he feared further victimisation, said a list of grievances had been sent to police management, but the officers felt they had to speak out against the station commander and those perceived DENIED: Brigadier Vish Naidoo said break-ins were investigated to be allied to him.
“There was a break-in at the airport police station in 2008 where cash, firearms and drugs were stolen. There was another break-in in 2012 where drugs and cash was stolen.”
The officer said a senior task team investigated the incidents, but without success.
“We question these things and are then called troublemakers,” said the lieutenant-colonel, who has more than 20 years’ experience in the police, 10 of them at the airport.
The complainants said the station commander, Brigadier Renny Mogale, accused them of being troublemakers every time they complained or queried the status of the investigations.
Johan Burger, senior police researcher for the Institute for Se- curity Studies, said it was “concerning and completely unacceptable” that the problems had not been dealt with.
Police spokesman Brigadier Vish Naidoo said the SAPS management had investigated the matter and decided to charge the 10 lieutenant-colonels for failing to carry out a lawful order or routine instruction, conducting themselves in an improper, disgraceful or unacceptable manner, and displaying disrespect to others in the workplace, among other charges.
“Regarding the disciplinary actions taken against the 10 lieutenant-colonels . . . an employer has the duty to manage its organisation in an effective and efficient manner,” said the brigadier.
He denied that any divisions or teams had taken preference over others. “Management has the prerogative to distribute resources in line with their identified needs in ensuring service delivery.”
He also said that both robberies cited by the complainants had been properly investigated.
Policing union president Mpho Kwinika said: “We need to encourage police officials who are doing good . . . and in this instance we should rally behind police officials who report wrongdoing and corruption in the police.
“We will continue to support and fight for our members, not only with these guys, but the entire police force who are trying to improve their image.”
The 10 lieutenantcolonels lodged grievances against superiors
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