The Democrat Alliance says after rushing to put metro police officers on our streets, having dragged their feet for over 7 years, the ANC Mayor Jordaan seems willing to break the law and appoint officers who do not meet minimum education and basic training requirements, and who have criminal records.
The DA’s mayoral candidate Athol Trollip says Danny Jordaan appointed his “criminal pal and alleged fraudster Linda Mti” to head up safety and security in the Metro. He is now also determined to appoint untrained officers who have criminal records to serve in the metro police.
Trollip says “by cutting corners in an attempt to launch a metro police, last Friday’s chaotic and distrupted event saw disgruntled traffic and security officers hold a protest. Jordaan’s willingness to overlook unqualified and criminal credentials for metro police officers appears to violate Chapter 12 of the Police Services Act.
“It is unconscionable that Jordaan has once again dropped the ball by delivering a toy gun metro police, with successive ANC Mayors unable to deliver us a lawful and effective service. While a Metro Police service is urgently required to enforce by-laws and make our streets safe, it is a tragedy that the ANC has chosen to sidestep the law and place more peoples’ lives in danger, all in the interest of winning votes, says Trollip.
He said the people of Port Elizabeth are under increasing attack from virulent gangsterism and crime. What is needed are well-equipped metro police headquarters, comprehensive combat, defence and firearm training, proper vehicle and equipment procurement and branding, and the hiring and screening of additional personnel.
The DA is determined to win Nelson Mandela Bay at this year’s local government election so that an effective, fully-functional metro police service, with specialised units can work to restore faith in government.