One of 150-odd policemen served with eviction notices by Western Cape police management has warned that “this is the type of thing that pushes police to commit suicide”.
The inspector is one of at least 50 police officers who have been given until the end of the month to vacate their police residences in Park Court flats, Kenilworth.
The inspector, who declined to be named for fear of reprisals, said he would not be surprised if the punitive action by the police’s top management resulted in displaced policemen “picking up a gun” as a away out.
Speaking on behalf of colleagues, who were afraid to talk to the media for fear of being fired, the inspector said: “We must fight crime for them (police management) but they do nothing for us. We are not animals.”
He said a neighbour, who has also been given until the end of the month to move out, was in tears yesterday as he contemplated his options.
Billy Daniels, spokesman for the South African Police Union, estimated that at least 150 police officers in the Western Cape were served with similar orders.
The lower-ranking members are apparently being evicted to make way for senior officers who have been brought to the province by provincial police commissioner Mzwandile Petros, and who have for months been living in hotels and private accommodation on the police’s account.
“We did not expect this (evictions). They (police management) have not abided by their own process,” said Daniels. Police officers can apply for residence in police flats and their Monthly rent is adjusted according to their salary scale.Daniels said police officers were ordered in November by management to make representations about their accommodation requests.
They expected an official response in May, but Daniels said the results were not released. He blamed Petros for the evictions.
“He promised these new members accommodation. But now that accommodation has become too expensive.” Daniels said most of the recruits were put up in hotels.
To cut costs, Daniels said, Petros was now having to evict lower-ranking officers to accommodate the Eastern Cape recruits.
The inspector said it was only constables, sergeants and inspectors who were being evicted. Captains and superintendents, who earned about R300 000 a year, could remain.
“And many of them have houses, with subsidies,” he said.
The inspector said he feared for his family’s future. Like many of his colleagues, he said he struggled to concentrate at work.
“We don’t know if we will come home to find our furniture out on the street.”
The Cape Times tried to get a response from provincial police management.
Elna de Beer, spokeswoman for Petros, referred queries to provincial police media officer Billy Jones yesterday morning.
Makhaya Mani, spokesman for Community Safety MEC Leonard Ramatlakane, said the matter was “administrative” and had to be handled by the SAPS media centre.
A spokesman for the SAPS housing policy committee, responsible for issuing the eviction orders, declined to comment. He said Jones would respond to any questions.
Jones said the questions had been forwarded to a Senior-Superintendent Tlomatsana in Pretoria who said he would respond today. - Cape Times
The inspector is one of at least 50 police officers who have been given until the end of the month to vacate their police residences in Park Court flats, Kenilworth.
The inspector, who declined to be named for fear of reprisals, said he would not be surprised if the punitive action by the police’s top management resulted in displaced policemen “picking up a gun” as a away out.
Speaking on behalf of colleagues, who were afraid to talk to the media for fear of being fired, the inspector said: “We must fight crime for them (police management) but they do nothing for us. We are not animals.”
He said a neighbour, who has also been given until the end of the month to move out, was in tears yesterday as he contemplated his options.
Billy Daniels, spokesman for the South African Police Union, estimated that at least 150 police officers in the Western Cape were served with similar orders.
The lower-ranking members are apparently being evicted to make way for senior officers who have been brought to the province by provincial police commissioner Mzwandile Petros, and who have for months been living in hotels and private accommodation on the police’s account.
“We did not expect this (evictions). They (police management) have not abided by their own process,” said Daniels. Police officers can apply for residence in police flats and their Monthly rent is adjusted according to their salary scale.Daniels said police officers were ordered in November by management to make representations about their accommodation requests.
They expected an official response in May, but Daniels said the results were not released. He blamed Petros for the evictions.
“He promised these new members accommodation. But now that accommodation has become too expensive.” Daniels said most of the recruits were put up in hotels.
To cut costs, Daniels said, Petros was now having to evict lower-ranking officers to accommodate the Eastern Cape recruits.
The inspector said it was only constables, sergeants and inspectors who were being evicted. Captains and superintendents, who earned about R300 000 a year, could remain.
“And many of them have houses, with subsidies,” he said.
The inspector said he feared for his family’s future. Like many of his colleagues, he said he struggled to concentrate at work.
“We don’t know if we will come home to find our furniture out on the street.”
The Cape Times tried to get a response from provincial police management.
Elna de Beer, spokeswoman for Petros, referred queries to provincial police media officer Billy Jones yesterday morning.
Makhaya Mani, spokesman for Community Safety MEC Leonard Ramatlakane, said the matter was “administrative” and had to be handled by the SAPS media centre.
A spokesman for the SAPS housing policy committee, responsible for issuing the eviction orders, declined to comment. He said Jones would respond to any questions.
Jones said the questions had been forwarded to a Senior-Superintendent Tlomatsana in Pretoria who said he would respond today. - Cape Times
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