Members of the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) are fed up with inaction over alleged graft and mismanagement among its leaders and say they are taking over all Popcru’s offices.
This week union members called in Cosatu to assist in negotiations while they were trying to take over the Western Cape office. The dispute was still being negotiated in the union’s offices in Athlone when the Mail & Guardian went to press on Thursday.
Zwelinzima Vavi, Cosatu general secretary, could not be reached for comment on the talks, which took place behind closed doors and were described by members as “tense”. Vavi said previously the federation would mediate in Popcru’s escalating crisis.
“We’re not going to sit around while nothing is done about the allegations of mismanagement by our provincial leadership,” said a Cape Town Popcru member and police officer, who asked not to be named.
“We requested some members of the South African Police Service and Cosatu to help us make the leadership vacate the office.” Norman Mampane, Popcru’s national spokesperson, said he would contact the Western Cape offices to find out what was happening and then asked the M&G to send him questions.
“I’ve prepared something for you, but I’m waiting for the leadership to sanction it,” he said later. “Their cellphones are off so I can’t send it to you.” Thami Gumede, a former head of Popcru’s legal desk, said that the KwaZulu-Natal offices of Popcru in Durban had also been “taken over” earlier this month but the provincial leadership structure had refused to step down.
“We went to the offices and held a meeting with the provincial leaders and members,” he said. “We resolved that the leadership structure is illegal, but it refused to vacate or step down. Now we’re operating with two leadership structures.” Gumede said he had been appointed national coordinator for the provinces and was working alongside a national task team appointed by Popcru members to investigate alleged corruption and mismanagement of union funds.
“The issue of the current leadership and the allegations against them is a serious one and we cannot tolerate it any longer,” said Gumede. Popcru represents more than 150 000 police and prison officers but there has been little official response to the allegations of financial irregularities plaguing the union.
Members have complained to the M&G that they have seen no evidence of the promised moves by Cosatu to mediate and find a solution to the national dispute. The M&G ran a series of exposés of the allegations of corruption at Popcru, which included claims that union leaders were living high on the hog at the expense of members.
Among the allegations were:
- Documentary evidence that its national treasurer, Themba Matsane, earned R7,5-million in 2008. Matsane, whose income dropped to a still handsome R2-million the following year, refused to discuss his earnings.
- Police Captain Ntombizakhe Mcaba claimed she was fired as Popcru’s vice-president in December last year after calling for an external investigation into allegations of financial irregularity levelled against the union’s national leadership.
- Police are investigating the disappearance of R80-million after it was paid to the investment arm of Popcru for shares it held in the Protea Hotels group. The money was allegedly not recorded in the books of the Popcru Group of Companies (PGC).
- A former board member of the Popcru board of companies, Meshack Mpemva, has opened a police case against Popcru president Zizamele Cebekhulu, treasurer Themba Matsane, PGC chief executive Zwilenkosi Mdletshe and the chairperson of the PGC remuneration committee, Sibusiso Maphatiane, accusing them of financial irregularities. Lawyers acting on behalf of the four leaders have denied all claims of impropriety.
- An 18,5-million Popcru investment to import cement from China in 2007 went up in smoke, with no one held accountable.