PORT ELIZABETH – The Nelson Mandela Municipality will officially launch its much-awaited Metro Police Force at Vuyisile Mini Square on Friday.
The first phase of the R4 million Nelson Mandela Bay Metro Police was meant to kick off on April 30.
Acting City Manager Johan Mettler previously said that the two-week delay was due to practical issues and anticipated lengthy consultations regarding the programme.
He added that at a council meeting in April, an additional R17.4 million was approved for the programme.
Former Correctional Services Commissioner, Linda Mti, has been appointed to head up the Metro Police Force.
His appointment has, however, been slammed by the Democratic Alliance in the Eastern Cape.
DA mayoral candidate for Nelson Mandela Bay, Athol Trollip, last week wrote to the National Prosecuting Authority to ask why charges have not been brought against Mti following findings by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) which probed a tender awarded during his tenure in the prisons service.
“I have written to National Director of Public Prosecutions, Shaun Abrahams, requesting the disclosure of reasons as to why Danny Jordaan’s pal Linda Mti has not yet been prosecuted for the SIU’s findings against him of corruption and accepting bribes.”
“I have also requested a prosecution timeline on the NPA’s open docket on Mti, with specific reference to proposed court dates and investigation findings,” said Trollip.
The metro police department has been six years in the making. Metro Police Chief Pinkie Mathabethe was employed in 2014 but has had no actual police force to lead.
Trollip was previously quoted as saying that Mathabethe earned a salary but had no police officials at her authority.
“She earns over a million rand a year but she has no metro police people underneath her authority,” said Trollip.
The metro police force in the city is expected to include a 24-hour service, civilian oversight, as well as enforce traffic and municipal by-laws.
South Africa Today – South Africa News
