A police disciplinary hearing on Tuesday recommended that the commander of the Cape Peninsula dog unit be fired over an alleged racist slur.
However Superintendent Ivan Myers says he intends to fight the dismissal.
”The last thing I am is a racist,” he told Sapa.
Myers was accused of using the word ”kaffir” several times in a phone call to colleagues relating to a man bitten by a police dog.
He said the disciplinary hearing that dealt with his case was ”a travesty of justice”, and that there had been no complainant.
”I can only surmise that I am being made a scapegoat,” he said.
”What is most disturbing is that it would appear as though the SA Police Service in the Western Cape is hell bent on ridding itself by whatever means of capable and experienced officers….
”The (accusation) levelled against me is as false as can be and I can assure the public, who I have and will continue to serve with the same pride and diligence, that I am not a racist.”
Provincial secretary of the SA Police Union, Andy Miller, said it was disconcerting that the presiding officer in the hearing was currently being investigated for numerous departmental offences, and in the past had himself been accused of racist comments against whites in the police.
Sapu would help Myers in taking the dismissal to arbitration under the auspices of the safety and security sector bargaining council.
Miller said this move meant the police would have to hold back implementation of the dismissal.
Myers said he was currently under suspension.
Provincial police representative Inspector Elliot Sinyangana said on Tuesday evening that he had ”not received any report officially” on the matter.
”I can only confirm that tomorrow morning,” he said. – Sapa