Municipal Manager, Sello More, addressed the media on Wednesday after said recruits barricaded access points leading to the metro’s headquarters – the Bram Fischer building – barring employees, security guards, councillors and the public from accessing the building. 

It is alleged that the recruits are yet to receive appointment letters and are unhappy over this. More says the recruits have undergone an extensive vetting process and none of the selected individuals now donning uniforms have criminal records. Freedom Front Plus Member of the Provincial Legislature (MPL), Armand Cloete, maintains otherwise.

“This is what happens when you appoint people with criminal records. We know from council questions that there are some people with criminal records that are being appointed in the metro police. When you give those individuals [access to] police ammunition and vehicles, this is what happens. We say that it's a clear labour issue and should be handled as such. We can’t have a police force closing streets owing to a labour issue,” says Cloete. 

According to a City Press article, 24 members of the current traffic and law enforcement unit have criminal records and that the metro is assisting them to clear these criminal records.

READ MORE: Mangaung municipality embroiled in metro police recruitment scandal

At this stage, it appears More’s arrival at the Bram Fischer Building and subsequent deliberations with the disgruntled officials has placated the vexed officials who have now removed the barricades in front of the building. Whilst the situation appears normal it isn’t clear from More’s address if these officials are continuing to be on duty despite the halted administrative process pertaining to their appointment. In the meantime, the metro is continuing to engage the community and labour unions on the matter.

The Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality last week announced that their planned launch of its dedicated police department has been deferred. The launch was meant to take place in a glitzy ceremony held at the Free State stadium in Bloemfontein on Thursday 30 September, but was called off at the eleventh hour following mounting pressure from the Mangaung Service Delivery Forum (MSDF). The forum was threatening to embark on a shutdown of Bloemfontein, Thaba’ Nchu, Dewetsdorp, Wepener and Soutpan, should the launch move forward.

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