* The Star has apologised to top metro policeman Mike Smith and retracts the following story about him. Read the related article above.
Johannesburg - One of Joburg’s top metro cops and his administration have been accused of corruption and racism, and the metro police department will not respond to the complaints, which have been filed with the ANC and the JMPD.
Chief Superintendent Mike Smith has a long history with the JMPD, but according to three officers who claim they were unfairly dismissed, his administration has been crippled by corruption condoned by him and his superiors.
Lesiba Kganyago said he was dismissed on August 30 for an incident in June 2011, when he accidentally arrested one of his colleagues, mistaking him for a criminal.
Kganyago said the officer, Tlou Sebatjane, had not identified himself as a member of the JMPD internal affairs unit, and had “sneaked up on” and “jumped on” Kganyago.
Kganyago pushed him to the ground and handcuffed him, and only after the arrest had been carried out did Sebatjane explain that he was a police officer.
At the time of the incident, Kganyago was charged with assault, both in a criminal court and at an internal disciplinary hearing.
The case was thrown out after Sebatjane withdrew all charges against Kganyago. The Star has seen an affidavit proving this.
However, Smith then insisted that the charges be upheld. Kganyago, who has not had another disciplinary hearing or written warning in his 21 years on the force, said he believes Sebatjane had been coerced by Smith to reinstate the internal charges because of a poor relationship between himself and the superintendent.
Kganyago said the original officer presiding over his hearing was removed and replaced by a colleague with close links to Smith.
Kganyago is fighting his dismissal internally and through the CCMA. If this fails, he plans to take his case to the Public Protector.
Kganyago said he would argue in his appeal that Smith’s alleged racism within the department had resulted in a corrupt regime where black officers were victimised. The Star has interviewed two other JMPD members who have attacked Smith’s conduct and the administration.
A complaint was sent to ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe in July, detailing incidents where white and correctly aligned non-white officers who were allegedly involved in dubious activities were never subjected to internal disciplinary procedures.
Mantashe was unavailable for comment on the complaint, and attempts to contact other ANC spokespeople were also unsuccessful on Tuesday night.
The policeman who wrote the complaint said that even officers who had been arrested by the SAPS for misconduct – allegations such as stealing cars, using metro police equipment for their private security details, and even murder – had not been suspended or subjected to internal discipline.
Another former officer fighting his own allegedly unlawful dismissal, Andries Mabaso, has backed his fellow complainant’s claims, and said Smith and his direct superiors were responsible for the mismanagement of the metro police.
Mabaso is also worried that he may not get a fair appeal because of the internal politics.
The three complainants are pursuing their appeals independently.
When approached with the allegations, metro police spokesman Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar was unwilling to comment.
“The JMPD cannot discuss any of the issues pertaining to this particular case in public prior to the CCMA ruling. All other allegations will be discussed after the appeal has been concluded,” said Minnaar.
He also failed to respond to questions put to him about relatively minor misconduct displayed by Smith in photographs provided to The Star.
In the images, he is seen out shopping in full uniform and not wearing his hat.
According to JMPD regulations, officers are not allowed to conduct their personal business or be seen out in public in their full uniform when not on duty.
The manual also states that officers must always wear their full uniform – including their police-issued hat – while in public spaces.
Attempts to contact Smith on Tuesday were unsuccessful.
The Star