Confusion over PE riot police staffing
A PLAN to relocate several police members who recently moved to Port Elizabeth to join the riot unit has been put on temporary hold.
About 40 police officers, some from as far as Cape Town, George and Lusikisiki, were told on Wednesday to head back home after being transferred to Port Elizabeth’s public order policing unit two weeks ago.
No reasons or explanations were given.
The deployment of the officials to Port Elizabeth was part of an attempt to beef up the unit’s manpower.
The plan came after deputy national police commissioner Fannie Masemola told parliament’s policing portfolio committee they were understaffed to deal with violent protest nationally – especially with the elections approaching.
Experts warned that violent protests had spiked by 274% over the past decade.
Last year, there were an estimated 30 protests a day nationally, of which about five were violent.
One angry official, who relocated to Port Elizabeth, said they had applied for the position at the specialist unit after the posts were advertised internally earlier this year. “We took up the posts two weeks ago and since then we have been undergoing training,” the official, who did not want to be named, said.
“Some of us sold our houses and moved our entire families to Port Elizabeth for this job.
“It is as if [management] just don’t care.”
SA Police Union provincial secretary Eric Jinikew said they were in consultation with senior management about the letter.
“Management have told the members to disregard the letter and continue with their policing duties while we gather details on what is actually happening,” he said.
“The reason behind sending police officials back . . . is still unknown and comes at great cost to the members.”
In the wake of violent protests in Tshwane this week, Sapu general secretary Oscar Skommere yesterday called on police management to deploy their 5 000 trainees.
“It is well-documented that our public order policing capacity is severely under pressure,” he said.
National police spokesman Major-General Vuyisile Ngesi had not responded to queries by last night.