The former head of the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD), Isaac Mapiyeye, has come under fire for allegedly creating a private police force using unpaid volunteers who were promised permanent positions but never received compensation for their work. These volunteers, part of the community liaison unit (CLU), were reportedly given police vehicles and firearms by Mapiyeye, despite not being officially attested or appointed as police officers.
The volunteers were tasked with various duties, including VIP protection, guarding council property, making arrests, and gathering information on service delivery protests in the metro. However, they claim that they were never given proper jobs or paid for their services. The volunteers allege that Mapiyeye reneged on his promise to appoint them permanently, leaving them in limbo.
According to the former volunteers, they were recruited by the late officer Sabelo Ngwenya in 2015 under Mapiyeye’s authorization. They were promised permanent employment in exchange for their work, which involved carrying out police duties such as arresting suspects and recovering stolen property using state vehicles. However, when Mapiyeye was suspended following allegations of sexual harassment, the volunteers were left in the lurch.
Despite their contributions to the EMPD, the volunteers claim that they were denied recognition and employment by Mapiyeye’s successor, General Julius Mkwanazi. They allege that their hard work and dedication to serving the community have been disregarded, and they are now seeking justice for their unpaid services.
The volunteers compiled a list of cases where they made significant arrests, including the recovery of stolen municipal cables and fake DVDs worth millions of rands. They believe that their arrests were legitimate and that their efforts should not be disregarded simply because they were not officially employed by the EMPD.
There are also allegations that the volunteers were overlooked for permanent positions because they were not members of the African National Congress (ANC). Despite meeting the requirements for recruitment, including having a police or military background, the volunteers claim that their affiliation with the ANC played a role in their exclusion.
Experts have weighed in on the situation, noting that volunteers do not have the authority to act as police officers and should not be issued firearms or state vehicles. The EMPD has denied any knowledge of the CLU and its activities, stating that the department’s mandate is limited to traffic enforcement, bylaw enforcement, and crime prevention.
The office of the Minister of Police has condemned the use of state resources by unauthorized individuals for purposes not mandated by law. The volunteers continue to seek recognition for their efforts and are determined to hold Mapiyeye and the EMPD accountable for their actions. The world of technology is constantly evolving and changing, with new innovations and advancements being made every day. One of the most exciting and promising areas of technology is artificial intelligence (AI). AI has the potential to revolutionize industries across the board, from healthcare to finance to transportation.
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