About-turn on axing of three Bay brigadiers

A recommendation from a disciplinary committee that three of Nelson Mandela Bay’s top cops be dismissed from their posts for insubordination has been set aside and a much lighter sanction imposed.

Instead of being axed, provincial commissioner Lieutenant-General Liziwe Ntshinga has resolved that Humewood station commander Brigadier Leonie Bentley, Gelvandale station commander Brigadier Lawrence Soekoe and deputy district commissioner for visible policing Brigadier Ronald Koll be suspended without pay for two months.

This comes after mounting pressure from Nelson Mandela Bay residents, some members of the SA Police Service and Bay political heads.

According to the officers’ attorney, George Malgas, the latest decision was communicated to them yesterday afternoon.

“We are happy that cooler heads prevailed and that the recommendation that my clients be dismissed was set aside.

“At least now we know that three competent and experienced brigadiers will retain their positions within the SAPS,” Malgas said.

Malgas said they still needed to study the official ruling in detail to determine what led to the final decision, and to establish what caused the provincial police management to deviate from the disciplinary committee’s recommendations.

“Regardless of the decision, we are grateful for the community’s support throughout this trying process.

“The amount of support we received, and the number of prominent officials that involved themselves in this process, is testimony to the quality and standard of service my clients have given to the community,” Malgas said.

The recommendation that the brigadiers be dismissed came last week after disciplinary proceedings against the three began in March following accusations of insubordination during a meeting with the provincial heads of the police.

During the meeting they questioned high-ranking appointments in the Nelson Mandela Bay policing district despite a collective restructuring agreement entered into between the SAPS and the two leading police unions, the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) and the SA Police Union (Sapu), that would prevent such appointments.

The outcome of the disciplinary process attracted a lot of attention from the community and political heads, leading to an outcry for the brigadiers to remain in their respective positions.

In the latest show of support yesterday, dozens of DA supporters took to the streets and marched to the Mount Road police station in support of Bentley, Koll and

Soekoe. The march, led by DA MPLs Bobby Stevenson, Marshall von Buchenroder and Yusuf Cassim, ended in a memorandum being handed over to police representatives, wherein they demand that the brigadiers be retained in their positions.

Among the demands listed in the DA’s memorandum was that promotions within the police service be based on merit and purpose, and not be influenced by nepotism or racial motivation.

Safety and security portfolio committee member Von Buchenroder said the memorandum also demanded a progress report on the criminal cases of perjury and defeating the ends of justice opened against the police officials who made statements that led to the disciplinary action against Bentley, Koll and Soekoe.

Police spokesperson Brigadier Thembinkosi Kinana confirmed Ntshinga reviewed the disciplinary committee’s decision and decided that a temporary suspension would be more suitable.

“Having received the recommendations of the Chairperson of Disciplinary Enquiry, the Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Liziwe Ntshinga, in consultation with the Departmental Legal office and Human Resources Management, had after studying the recommendations confirmed a sanction against the employees concerned,” Kinana said.

“However, she used her prerogative to reduce the sanction from dismissal to a two months’ suspension without remuneration. The sanction is to be implemented with immediate effect.”

Kinana said “it must be noted” that the provincial commissioner was empowered by the applicable regulations to use discretionary powers in matters of this nature.