Julius Malema, head of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), took to social media to accuse Julius Mkhwanazi, the suspended deputy chief of the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD), of treating the department “like his own spaza shop” and calling him a criminal.
These comments were made by Malema during a recent speech he gave in Ekurhuleni, where he blasted the metro police department for what he said was systemic corruption and a lack of responsibility. He claimed that Mkhwanazi didn’t respect the institution’s role as a public law enforcement agency charged with protecting metro citizens and instead viewed it more like a private corporation.
Suspension has been imposed on the Deputy Chief following accusations of misbehaviour. The specifics of his suspension have not been thoroughly discussed in court just yet, but Malema informed his followers that the decision validated their long-standing worries about the department’s leadership and discipline. Regardless of their status, he said, authorities guilty of crime must face swift and severe punishment.
The head of the EFF went on to say that police departments, particularly in cities with problems with service delivery and crime, ought to be open and accountable to the public. He insisted that officials should face immediate repercussions for any misconduct if the public does not have faith in the police system. In response to Malema’s portrayal of Mkhwanazi, EMPD has remained mum
In accordance with labour norms and relevant laws, the relevant municipal authorities have already stated that internal processes are currently underway. Within political and community groups, the words have prompted diverse reactions. While some locals have voiced their support for probes into the metro police’s practices, others have warned against jumping to conclusions.
The question of whether additional criminal or disciplinary measures will follow is critical to ongoing investigations and internal proceedings. The incident has stoked the fires of controversy surrounding Ekurhuleni’s leadership and, more generally, the question of responsibility within municipal police forces.