Black cops claim being victimised

A confidential and explosive report on racism and victimisation within the police’s East London Sea Port Unit has laid bare the daily challenges black police officers face at the hands of white officers.

Simply entitled “Investigative Report: Victimisation and Racism: East London Sea Port” the document reveals that five black police officers have left the unit due to constant victimisation and ill-treatment by three white warrant officers whose names have been mentioned in the report.

It further states that a Constable Siseko Ndashe resigned from the SAPS after a white warrant officer was reported to have said: “Blacks in this unit are lazy bastards and they need to pull their weight.”

It is further claimed the officer said he was not there to “babysit blacks”.

However, responding to Saturday Dispatch questions this week, provincial police spokesman Lieutenant Khaya Tonjeni said an investigation led by a senior officer had not revealed any racism.

“After the investigations were concluded, there was no clear evidence to prove that there were acts of racism between the members and the commander,” said Tonjeni.

The report, dated November 17 last year, and released to the unit on December 28, was signed by deputy-provincial commissioner Major-General Nomalady Dlan, who heads up the Human Resource Management department within the SAPS.

The report states:

lThe unit is headed by Colonel Anna Liebenberg, who does not greet her black colleagues;

lBlack officers were not allowed to use Land Cruisers, as these were reserved for white officers;

lBlack officers were denied access to the photocopy machines;

lBlack officers were not issued with toilet paper, while white officers had access to toilet paper;

lBlack officers were constantly targeted for misconduct, while white officers were not;

lWhite officers refused to work or share intelligence with their black counterparts; and

lBlack officers were targeted for their association with police rights union, Popcru.

The issues raised by black members were largely blamed on Liebenberg.

In a reply contained in the report, Liebenberg said she had “inherited a broken unit” that she was striving to rebuild.

She said restrictions on the fleet vehicles were introduced after it was discovered the members were abusing them to buy food at the shops.

She said black members also abused the photocopy machines by printing between 4000 and 6000 copies.

In their defence, the white officers said they wanted to work with black members but they were superstitious and did not want to go near water at night.

The white officers further said black members played on their cellphones or fell asleep on duty.

The report recommended that white and black officers be split into shifts and that Liebenberg involve managers in decision-making and allow for a decentralisation of power.

Tonjeni said the recommendations were being implemented, however, Popcru said it was “extremely dissatisfied and disappointed with the recommendations”. — zwangam@dispatch.co.za