ANOTHER METRO POLICE BLUNDER

By Cllr Karen Meyer

The fact that the Metro Police Department paid R170 million for an ineffective radio system must truly be the last cherry on the proverbial cake! The Metro Police Department has had nothing less than disturbing negative allegations against them specifically in the last few months.

The latest frightening situation involving the said communication system however, not only involves the Department, but can have a disastrous affect on the city’s residents as well as the officers on the street that should be able to use this form of communication for the safety of all. How can the safety of its own members and that of the residents be compromised in such a blatant way without repercussions? The fact that so much money was paid for the said system raises more questions than answers. It is clear that people in top-management are involved in the constant irregularities concerning tenders and contracts of the Safety Department. Therefore nothing less than a proper investigation would suffice and officials found guilty should be fired immediately!

Furthermore, the fact that officers had to beg for assistance to Senior Management to sort this system out, to no avail, says a lot about the Senior Management. Passing the buck seems to be the order of the day and absolutely no-one takes responsibility. The ANC must once and for all understand that this scenario is exactly what happens when you appoint people for the sake of their political background and ignore the necessary credentials!

The DA have asked at the March 2010 Council meeting in an urgent motion that the evaluation process of Metro Police Officers be investigated and re-evaluated as well as the training process. This Department needs to clean up its act and the only way to do so is by cleaning it out from top to bottom! Ignoring this will inevitably result in this Department’s total shut-down.

The DA will again pose an urgent motion at the Council meeting on Thursday to ensure a proper investigation and that the findings thereof serve before Council.