Suspended Ekurhuleni metro police chief accused of abusing civilians

Suspended EMPD Chief Isaac Mapiyeye allegedly used unpaid volunteers as a private police force to make arrests.

Suspended Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) chief Isaac Mapiyeye has been accused of running his own police force using unpaid volunteers who thought they would be given permanent positions.

Despite lacking credentials or a formal order of appointment, members of the so-called Community Liaison Unit (CLU) were allegedly issued police vehicles and firearms and deployed in VIP protection and council property roles.

They made arrests, recovered stolen vehicles and property, and were detailed to act as a criminal intelligence agency, gathering information on protests regarding subway service.

However, they claim that they were never provided with adequate work or remuneration for their work.

There was no Ekurhuleni metro “police”.

Former volunteers, who had experience as police reservists but had never previously been permanent employees of EMPD, claim the department forced them to work as official police officers from 2016 to 2019 without pay.

They claim that Mapiyeye is currently refusing to appoint them because he has not kept his promise to appoint them permanently.

Three former CLU members said they joined EMPD under the leadership of late officer Sabelo Ngwenya, who was allegedly authorized by Mapiyeye to carry out the recruitment in 2015.

Brian Khumalo said he joined CLU because they were promised permanent employment.

“We did a lot of police work, made arrests, recovered firearms and stolen vehicles, and used state vehicles,” he said.

EMPD media relations officer Zweli Dlamini said: “We have no knowledge of this.”

The document provided by the complainants sets out the objectives of the CLU, which they claimed were being achieved.

It reads: “Criminal intelligence – the unit is obliged to collect information regarding protests in the provision of services and find the causes of protests, monitor buildings and property of the commune, and identify suspects involved in the destruction of government structures.”

“Close VIP protection – a team responsible for escorting and protecting councilors in emergency situations, especially during public meetings.”

“Housing – investigation into fraud and corruption in RDP homes and land encroachment by illegal occupiers.”

The group was promised permanent employment

The group accuses Mapiyeye, who is suspended from surveillance allegations of sexual harassmentpromising them employment if they managed to get the signatures of the people they worked with.

“We had people who signed the agreement and once it was done, he told us he was suspended and General Julius Mkwanazi would handle the matter, but he refused to acknowledge us,” Khumalo said.

He said they were called into council meetings to act as VIP security.

Another former CLU member, Lindi Simunda, said: “Now they are neglecting us, despite their promises, and we cannot leave it like this because we have worked hard to serve our country.

“We signed attendance sheets every day, so there’s no point in them denying that they know us.

“If they claim that we were not working under EMPD, then all the people we arrested should be released because that means the arrests were made by civilians.”

The three made a long list of arrest numbers they had made. One of them includes the Katlehong case, in which suspects were arrested for stealing city cables worth R1.8 million.

In another case reported by local media, two men were arrested in possession of 8,000 fake DVDs, computers, DVD players and printers.

The estimated value of the confiscated goods was R150,000. The photo included in the article shows them handcuffing the suspects and their weapons, as well as a marked police vehicle.

The groups believe they were not hired because they were not members of the ANC

Khumalo said that out of a group of 17, only two were recruited. “We feel we have been left out because we are not members of the ANC.”

He said the requirements state that they must have a 10th grade degree and police or military experience. Johan Burger of the Institute for Security Studies said volunteers did not have police powers.

“They can’t arrest anyone; they cannot stop and search anyone; and they can’t stop and question anyone. Volunteers also cannot be issued firearms or use state vehicles as if they were police officers.

“If used for private security services, they must be registered with the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (Psira) in accordance with Psira Act No. 56 of 2001.

“At best, they would have the ordinary and very limited powers of a civilian (so-called civil powers of arrest) under the Criminal Procedure Act.”

Dlamini of EMPD said: “The city does not believe it would be legally permissible to establish an intelligence or investigative unit because we do not have the authority to perform such functions.

“Our job is to enforce traffic laws, enforce regulations, prevent crime and act as the registration authority for National Road Traffic Act Just.”

The Office of the Minister of Police said: “Only persons appointed under the SAPS Act are authorized to perform the duties of police officers. We condemn the use of state resources by unauthorized persons for activities for which they are not authorized.”