The South African Municipal Workers’ Union on Friday threatened to go on strike if Ekurhuleni metro police chief Robert McBride was not suspended.
”We are going to say to the municipality, suspend Robert McBride or municipal service delivery is going to be hampered,” said Samwu branch secretary Koena Ramotlou.
He said his union had been calling for McBride’s suspension since last year when he crashed his municipal car.
”He is being treated with kids gloves … while other employees are treated with steel gloves.”
Ramoutlou said McBride should have been suspended last year and charged by the municipality, like other employees in similar situations.
”The municipal manager and the mayor should act on this matter and suspend comrade Robert to allow him time to focus on his case and clear his name.”
He said Samwu had a programme in place to halt municipal services if McBride was not suspended.
Ekurhuleni municipality spokesperson Zweli Dlamini said Samwu had a right to voice its opinion on any matter and to embark on a strike.
He said mayor Duma Nkosi would deal with the matter at a press conference to be held in Germiston on Monday.
The Ekurhuleni municipality respected the National Prosecuting Authority’s decision to prosecute McBride, he said.
The council was waiting for the legal process to take its course before deciding on whether to launch its own investigation into the matter.
”The normal procedure when such incidents take place … we investigate the matter and the circumstances around it,” Dlamini said.
McBride made a brief appearance in the Pretoria Regional Court on Friday morning and was granted bail of R1 000.
He faces charges of driving under the influence of alcohol, defeating the ends of justice and fraud. McBride also faces alternative charges of reckless or negligent driving, conspiracy and incitement.
The charges relate to McBride’s car accident in December last year, near Centurion. – Sapa