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Suspended constable reinstated by Metro Police

After being on suspension for several months, a Durban metro police constable, fingered in the controversial R1.2 million tender for the procurement of 20 police dogs from Denel, has been reinstated. Constable Nhlanhla Makhanya was last week re-issued with his service firearm, marking his return to work.

However, the metro police department said disciplinary action related to the tender would continue as per the recommendations of a report by the city’s integrity and investigations unit. Makhanya’s reinstatement comes after the South African Local government Bargaining Council ordered his reinstatement and that a compensation of R36 000 be paid to him. However, metro police had not paid the compensation within the stipulated 14 days, forcing Makhanya’s lawyers to seek a writ of execution.

The metro police department then went to court to prevent Makhanya and the sheriff from executing the order which would have meant attaching movable assets from metro police. According to a court document, a White Corsa bakkie, said to be worth R40 000, had been identified as the asset to be attached. Metro police, however, withdrew the application last week and was ordered to pay Makhanya’s legal costs. Asked why the application was withdrawn, metro police spokesperson Parboo Sewpersad said the head of metro police was still consulting its legal department.

Metro police had argued in its urgent labour court application that it was still seeking legal opinion on the R36 000 award and had wanted to take the matter on review. In an affidavit submitted in court, metro police deputy head Wiseman Mchunu said his department had the right to litigate and this included the right to take the matter on review. Sources close to Makhanya have always argued that his suspension was unfair and smacked of the abuse of power by management.

His union representatives also said it was disingenuous to accuse a low- ranking police officer of approving a tender that cost so much money. The matter of the procurement of the dogs caused a stir when an investigation report into the matter was leaked. Officers in the dog unit complained that they had not been consulted and that pre-trained dogs was not the best route because dogs have to be trained with their handlers. Previously, the city had relied on the public to donate dogs.

Source: www.iol.co.za

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Suspended constable reinstated by Metro Police

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