Durban - Controversial Durban metro police chief Eugene Nzama should be hauled before a disciplinary hearing for “tarnishing” eThekwini’s image over an incident involving gross abuse of power in Springfield Park earlier this month.
This was the unanimous call from city opposition parties on Wednesday as the details of the incident broke. However, city spokeswoman Tozi Mthethwa refused to indicate what action, if any, would be taken against Nzama.
The Mercury was still unable to reach Nzama for comment on Wednesday. His attorney, Zane Haneef, said he would meet the police chief to discuss the matter only on Thursday.
Mthethwa said the city would not discuss with a third party details pertaining to internal investigations based on allegations against any member of staff.
A Springfield Park shop owner told The Mercury this week how Nzama had abused his power to have two “illegal” foreign security guards arrested on two separate occasions. This was because he would not allow one of them to sign off a purchase receipt after he had bought two storage boxes from the shop.
Also read: Shop owner exposes Nzama's abuse of power
The incident, which was caught on camera, is the latest scandal involving the city’s chief of police, who has survived repeated calls by his staff and the taxi industry for him to be axed.
IFP councillor Mdu Nkosi said it was “unacceptable” for Nzama to “abuse his position”, sentiments echoed by fellow exco members, Heinz De Boer of the DA and the NFP’s Bongiwe Mtshali.
“We expect someone in his position to do things by the book, and not correct a wrong with another wrong,” said Nkosi. “I’m not saying foreigners without permits should be allowed to work, but it tarnishes the image of the metro police and the city.
“For him to abuse his powers like this and then mobilise for other innocent people to be arrested is wrong. It looks like he was exploiting his municipal status.”
“Citizens see the unit in a bad light; they see metro police as the enemy,” Mtshali said.
The city, Nkosi said, seemed unwilling to clip Nzama’s wings. “Every time there are problems that require his intervention, we only see his deputy, Steve Middleton. We only see Nzama when there are controversies.” Disciplinary action was needed to establish if Nzama’s action was in line with the unit’s code of conduct.
De Boer asked if a formal complaint had been laid with the city by the complainant. “If not, just from the article, we will probably be requesting an investigation. There have been too many allegations against him.” The investigation would “not just be for the sake of the public, but for Mr Nzama himself to have the opportunity to answer the allegations”.
Read more: Demanding proof of purchase: Is it legal?
Mtshali said: “Every establishment has its own set of rules. If a store ticks off purchase receipts at the exit, you have to comply.”
She described Nzama’s action as an abuse of power and said he should be called to account. “It is the same as abuse of power by councillors who reprimand and threaten metro police who issue them with fines. It can’t be accepted.”
She said Nzama was not at the shop to verify the credentials and permit status of the security guards. He should face a disciplinary hearing.
“It is a shocking abuse of power. The fact that he sent metro cops twice to the shop on two separate days and arrested two different people is an indication of this. Is he going to do this with the thousands of foreigners without permits he meets in the city? He’s off the mark.”
The Mercury contacted ANC regional chairwoman Zandile Gumede for comment, but she asked for more time to read up about the incident before responding.
SA Municipal Workers Union eThekwini deputy secretary Nkosinathi Zuma said the union was “not surprised” by the alleged incident. “We will not also be surprised if the municipality does nothing regarding this, one of many incidents of bullying and abuse of power.”
The union said there was a litany of allegations against Nzama on which the city had not taken action, dating from 2005.
“It is common knowledge that he has abused several members of the public with impunity, from hawkers and taxi operators to his own managers and general workers.”
The Mercury