By Mashamba Media
news@alexreporter.co.za
The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (POPCRU) stands in full solidarity with the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) personnel who have embarked on protest action in response to unfair labour conditions, including salary disparities, overtime cuts, and poor working conditions.
POPCRU President Thulani Ngwenya has warned, “First, however, we would like to state that this situation must not be used for political grandstanding by any political party.
“These are workers’ issues that require urgent and focused attention. EMPD personnel provide their labour in exchange for compensation, and they are simply demanding that this compensation be fair and just. This is not a political matter, but a labour relations matter. It should be treated as such, and with the seriousness it deserves.”
Ngwenya emphasized that as a union committed to defending the rights of law enforcement officers, POPCRU strongly condemns the continued exploitation and disregard for the welfare of the EMPD and other traffic officers, who are vital to ensuring road safety and enforcing municipal bylaws.
“Ongoing government austerity measures have resulted in unfair salary adjustments and the reduction of essential overtime compensation. These measures have placed an unbearable burden on these officers, compromising both their livelihoods and their ability to serve the public effectively,” he said.
POPCRU has further reaffirmed its long-standing position on the nationalisation of traffic policing in South Africa. The current fragmented system, where traffic officers operate under municipal and provincial structures, has led to inconsistencies in wages, benefits, and working conditions across the country.
The union says it believes that traffic policing must be centralised under a single national command structure, which will ensure uniformity in salaries, improve working conditions, and enable better resource allocation for all officers, regardless of their jurisdiction.
“The decentralised nature of traffic law enforcement has resulted in significant disparities in job security, career development, and service delivery. Traffic officers working in different municipalities and provinces face unequal pay, poor career progression, and limited opportunities for professional growth. Nationalisation will address these inequalities, providing a more stable and sustainable environment for officers and contributing to the professionalisation of the sector,” he explains.
In addition to advocating for nationalisation, POPCRU says it’s open to discussing the specialisation of by-law enforcement outside the current Police Act.
The union notes that municipal by-law enforcement deserves its own specialised framework, ensuring that officers are properly trained, adequately equipped, and receive the recognition they deserve for their work in maintaining law and order within local communities.
“We call on the Ekurhuleni Municipality and all relevant stakeholders to urgently engage with the protesting officers to find a fair and sustainable resolution. POPCRU will continue to support EMPD personnel in their rightful demand for just and dignified working conditions.
“POPCRU remains committed to protecting the rights of all law enforcement officers, and will continue to advocate for meaningful reforms that improve the working conditions and professional recognition of those who serve and protect our communities,” added Ngwenya.
