A Hawks commander was suspended this week over his outspoken role as a union leader and told he could stay if he behaved like a manager and not an angry activist.
Colonel Loyiso Mdingi has been told he must undergo “counselling” for “anger management and good behaviour by a manager”.
The Police, Prisons and Civil Rights Union (Popcru) is up in arms and has rejected the “unwarranted”, and “spurious” charges, describing the suspension as an act of intimidation.
Mdingi, a Hawks investigative unit commander, was suspended on Monday by the acting national head of the Hawks Lieutenant-General Yolisa Matakata.
Mdingi, in his role as Popcru Eastern Cape chairman, has been publicly critical of internal Hawks dynamics and intrigues.
He has been found guilty in a disciplinary hearing of three charges and suspended for two months without pay.
Matakata’s letter suspending Mdingi, which the Dispatch has seen, gives Mdingi an ultimatum to step down from the Popcru chair or face being fired as a Hawks senior officer.
On the charge sheet seen by the Dispatch, Matakata finds Mdingi guilty of prejudicing the police’s administration, acting in an improper manner and contravening the SA Police Services code of conduct.
Mdingi was also found guilty of inciting other police members to engage in “unlawful” conduct by saying he would mobilise them to oust then Hawks head Berning Ntlemeza and others.
Matakata also charged Mdingi for failing to relinquish his shop steward’s post after he was promoted to commander in the Hawks.
Matakata claims Mdingi contravened an agreement between the unions and police service in this.
Mdingi, a former branch commander at Tsolo police cluster, has 28 years of experience in the police.
Popcru national spokesman Richard Mamabolo said: “Discipline is within the lifeblood of Popcru members, and any attempt at disrupting unity and sowing divisions within our union, through such acts of intimidation, will be met with the refutation it deserves.
“Mdingi was charged and found guilty by management for representing Popcru at a memorial service.”
To the Dispatch yesterday, Hawks national spokesman Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said Mdingi would be receiving counselling on “anger management and good behaviour by a manager”.
Mulaudzi added: “It must be noted that agreement 1 of 2015 clearly stipulates that people at that level cease to be actively involved in union matters.” — malibongwed@dispatch.co.za
Top Hawks official, unionist suspended
Colonel Loyiso Mdingi has been told he must undergo “counselling” for “anger management and good behaviour by a manager”.
The Police, Prisons and Civil Rights Union (Popcru) is up in arms and has rejected the “unwarranted”, and “spurious” charges, describing the suspension as an act of intimidation.
Mdingi, a Hawks investigative unit commander, was suspended on Monday by the acting national head of the Hawks Lieutenant-General Yolisa Matakata.
Mdingi, in his role as Popcru Eastern Cape chairman, has been publicly critical of internal Hawks dynamics and intrigues.
He has been found guilty in a disciplinary hearing of three charges and suspended for two months without pay.
Matakata’s letter suspending Mdingi, which the Dispatch has seen, gives Mdingi an ultimatum to step down from the Popcru chair or face being fired as a Hawks senior officer.
On the charge sheet seen by the Dispatch, Matakata finds Mdingi guilty of prejudicing the police’s administration, acting in an improper manner and contravening the SA Police Services code of conduct.
Mdingi was also found guilty of inciting other police members to engage in “unlawful” conduct by saying he would mobilise them to oust then Hawks head Berning Ntlemeza and others.
Matakata also charged Mdingi for failing to relinquish his shop steward’s post after he was promoted to commander in the Hawks.
Matakata claims Mdingi contravened an agreement between the unions and police service in this.
Mdingi, a former branch commander at Tsolo police cluster, has 28 years of experience in the police.
Popcru national spokesman Richard Mamabolo said: “Discipline is within the lifeblood of Popcru members, and any attempt at disrupting unity and sowing divisions within our union, through such acts of intimidation, will be met with the refutation it deserves.
“Mdingi was charged and found guilty by management for representing Popcru at a memorial service.”
To the Dispatch yesterday, Hawks national spokesman Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said Mdingi would be receiving counselling on “anger management and good behaviour by a manager”.
Mulaudzi added: “It must be noted that agreement 1 of 2015 clearly stipulates that people at that level cease to be actively involved in union matters.” — malibongwed@dispatch.co.za
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