Xhakaza says EMPD officers who participated in illegal strike will be held accountable
The officers used official EMPD vehicles to block several key roads, including the R21, N12 and N17 highways.
Workers are calling for the city to increase their salaries and adjust overtime hours. Picture: Sphamandla Dlamini/Eyewitness News
JOHANNESBURG - Ekurhuleni Mayor Doctor Xhakaza has vowed to spare no mercy for metro police officers who participated in an illegal strike.
In the last few weeks, Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) officers downed tools, protesting against cuts in overtime pay and salary adjustments.
The officers used official EMPD vehicles to block several key roads, including the R21, N12 and N17 highways.
Mayor Xhakaza addressed the illegal EMPD protest during his State of the City Address on Thursday.
Xhakaza said it was disappointing that the very same people tasked to enforce the law were quick to break it when things didn’t go their way.
"This was an unprecedented act by any law enforcement institution in the country. We do promise South Africans that stern and decisive action will be taken against those involved in this shameless act."
He said that EMPD officers who were involved in the illegal strike would be held accountable.
"Let me also take this opportunity to apologise to everyone who was inconvenienced by this action and assure road users that we are doing everything in our power to ensure that this does not happen again."
The EMPD has been criticised for allowing its officers to protest and block major highways using state vehicles.
Xhakaza said this could not be ignored.