The future of the chief of Ekurhuleni metro police, Isaac Mapiyeye, hangs by a thread as the city council is set to vote on his future.
Mapiyeye is facing charges of misconduct, sexual harassment and the harassment of two female metro police officers.
On Tuesday, the council convened on an extraordinary sitting to deliberate the damning report on the allegations.
The matter has been postponed for seven days to allow proper procedures to be followed before it is tabled in the council.
One victim opened a case of sexual harassment and intimidation on 4 July, and on 12 July, she lodged a formal complaint to the head of the department in a bid to ensure that she doesn’t have contact with Mapiyeye.
In a police affidavit, the victim said she blocked Mapiyeye’s telephone calls, but on 13 July, he called her sister four times between 10.47am and 1.23pm and again on 21 July at 2pm.
As a result, on 14 July, she started experiencing anxiety. On consultation, she was admitted to hospital for anxiety and major depression disorder, she said.
A letter from the victim’s doctor is attached as part of the evidence submitted to the council.
The EFF is calling for Mapiyeye’s immediate suspension and believes the ANC is protecting him.
EFF provincial chairperson Nkululeko Dunga said the ANC and DA have defended Mapiyeye at the expense of political relations that they may want to forge.
“In terms of procedure and legalities of the matter finding itself in council, the city manager was within her responsibilities to submit the matter to the legislature (the speaker’s office) since the executive failed to table it in council.
“We have called out Mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza on his delay in wanting to engage with the suspect when he is facing such serious allegations,” Dunga said.
The ANC’s Jongizizwe Dlabathi said his party is calling for proper processes to be followed in dealing with the matter.
“The manner in which the matter was brought in council overtook a process outlined by the mayoral committee where the mayor was supposed to be briefed.
“The matter was prematurely escalated to the legislature. We are not defending the suspect but don’t want it to be brought to council illegally,” he said.
ActionSA’s Siyanda Makhubo called for an overhaul of the leadership of the Ekurhuleni metro police department.
“Last month, we released a statement with allegations that the deputy chief of police, Julius Mkhwanazi, is accused of [seeking] sex for jobs,” he said.
Pictured above: Ekurhuleni metro police chief Isaac Mapiyeye.
