Morero retracts suggestion to absorb foreign nationals as JMPD officers
During the ANC’s regional executive committee lekgotla on Sunday, Morero suggested that employing foreign nationals as police officers could help address language barriers in the fight against crime.
Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero. Picture: EWN/Katlego Jiyane
JOHANNESBURG – African National Congress (ANC) chairperson in Joburg and the city’s mayor Dada Morero has retracted his suggestion to employ foreign nationals in the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) following considerable criticism and backlash.
During the ANC’s regional executive committee (REC) lekgotla on Sunday, Morero suggested that employing foreign nationals as police officers could help address language barriers in the fight against crime.
His proposal has since been rejected by several political parties - including the ANC’s provincial chairperson Panyaza Lesufi.
Speaking during a media briefing in Magaliesburg on Monday, Morero apologised to Joburg residents for any “anxiety” his comments have caused.
Some Joburg residents have since taken to social media and expressed their frustrations over Morero’s proposal to hire foreign nationals for the JMPD.
He said he released his suggestion was not consistent with the policies of both the ANC and the South African government.
“I, therefore, unconstitutionally withdraw my proposal. I wish to appreciate the robust manner in which our people were engaged in this discourse, especially on social media.”
Morero said the ANC REC lekgotla resolved to train JMPD officers to be proficient in foreign languages - especially those deployed to areas with a high concentration of immigrants.
He, however, said the party realised that language barriers hindered their metro’s crime-fighting efforts.
COJ MAYOR ABIDES BY GOVERNMENT POLICY
Moreover, Morero said the ANC will abide by government policy - which mandates that only South African citizens can be employed in law enforcement agencies.
“Having debated my proposal, the lekgotla came to the conclusion that the recruitment of foreign nationals into the JMPD, or any of the security cluster for that matter, is both undesirable and unattainable in the wake of the high levels unemployment crisis in south Africa, including the challenges on migration.”