Isaac Mapiyeye, the suspended head of the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD), has recently been accused of running a private police force using unpaid volunteers who expected to be given permanent positions in government.
Despite not being attested or granted official warrants of appointment, members of the community liaison unit (CLU) were allegedly issued police vehicles and weaponry before being deployed in VIP protection positions and to guard council property.
The force made some arrests, recovered stolen vehicles and property, and was also assigned a crime intelligence function, gathering information on service delivery demonstrations throughout the metro.
There were scanty reports that they claimed they were never given suitable positions or compensated for the work they were doing.
The former volunteer personnel, who had police training experience but had never been deployed to work for the EMPD department, claim the department forced them to perform as official police officers without pay from 2016 to 2019.
They are now complaining that Mapiyeye is denying them the promised appointment because he failed to keep his commitment to appoint them permanently to work for EMPD.
Meanwhile, three former CLU members claimed they joined EMPD under the supervision of late officer Sabelo Ngwenya, who was allegedly authorized by Mapiyeye in 2015 to conduct the recruitment.
Brian Khumalo said he joined the CLU because he was promised permanent employment after some time.
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“We did a lot of police work; we made arrests, recovered firearms and stolen vehicles, and we were using state vehicles,” Khumalo said.
EMPD media relations specialist Zweli Dlamini said: “We have no knowledge about this at all.”
The complainant listed the jobs they did within the time they operated in a document they shared.
“Crime intelligence – the unit has to gather information concerning service delivery protests and to find the causes of protests, monitor the municipality buildings and property and also identify suspects involved in vandalising government structures,” the doc. read.
It continued, “VIP close protection – the team involved in escorting and protecting councillors when they are under threat, especially at public meetings.”
“Housing – investigating fraud and corruption on RDP houses and land invasion by illegal occupants.”
The complainant claimed that Mapiyeye, who is currently suspended after sexual harassment allegations, offered them employment if they could obtain the signatures of their coworkers.
“We got people who signed and once that was done, he told us he was suspended and General Julius Mkwanazi would handle the matter, but he refused to recognise us,” Khumalo said.
He said part of the job they did was to be deployed to protect VIPs whenever there were council meetings.
“They are now neglecting us, going against their promises and we cannot let that go because we worked hard to serve our country,” another former CLU member, Lindi Simunda, reported.
“We would sign registers on a daily basis for our attendance, so it makes no sense for them to deny knowing us.
“If they claim that we did not work under EMPD, then all those people we arrested should be released because it means civilians made the arrests.”
The complainants went ahead and compiled a lengthy list of case numbers from arrests they conducted. One of these is the Katlehong case, in which individuals were detained for stealing municipal cables worth R1.8 million.
Another case highlighted in the document is the arrest of two guys who possessed 8,000 counterfeit DVDs, PCs, DVD players, and printers.
The confiscated commodities had an approximate worth of R150 000. They are seen handcuffing suspects in the photos from that story, and their firearms as well as a branded police truck can be seen.
The matter is taking a political tone, as Khumalo is claiming that from a group of 17, they only recruited two. “We believe we were left out because we are not ANC members.”
According to him, the qualifications were Grade 10 and a background in law enforcement or the military. According to Johan Burger of the Institute for Security Studies, volunteers do not have police powers.
“They cannot arrest anyone; they cannot stop and search anyone; and they cannot stop and question anyone. Volunteers can also not be issued with firearms or use state vehicles as if they are members of the police.
“If they are used for private security services they have to be registered with the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (Psira) in terms of the Psira Act No 56 of 2001.
“At best, they would have the ordinary and very limited powers of a civilian [so-called civilian’s arrest powers] in terms of the Criminal Procedure Act.”
“The city does not believe that it would have been legally allowed to establish an intelligence or criminal investigative unit as we do not have the powers to perform such functions,” EMPD official said.
The official continued, “Our mandate is traffic enforcement, bylaw enforcement, crime prevention and being the registration authority for the purposes of the National Road Traffic Act only.”
“Only individuals appointed in terms of the Saps Act are mandated to carry out duties as police officers. We condemn the use of state resources by those not authorised to, for acts which they are not mandated for,” the minister of police said.
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