SAMWU Statement on the Arrest of Officials

The South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU) is deeply shocked at theatrical performance witnessed today at the Central Executive Committee (CEC) meeting wherein a large contingent of police army descended and disrupted our meeting when they came to arrest three officials. The large police contingent came and disrupted the meeting wielding their R5 and handguns at the CEC delegates.

The arrests follows a search and seizure by the police on our Head Offices which has since inconvenienced the proper functioning of the union as computers belonging to finance personnel was taken away. After the search and seizure, SAMWU NOBs confirmed their commitment to cooperating with the Police on their investigations we are however disturbed at the recent events.

We believe that this is political and that whoever is behind this used the police to disrupt our CEC so that the meeting cannot discuss serious issues faced by the union. The police had ample time to take the officials into questioning, in fact they were supposed to have met with the suspects last Thursday but such meeting never happened as they were nowhere to be found. It is therefore surprising that the police, chose to come during the CEC to cause embarrassment.

SAMWU is a law abiding institution, we have on numerous occasions called for this matter to be concluded so that the union, in particular our members can finally get answers and justice. We however did not expect such drama from the police, we will therefore be approaching IPID on the police conduct when they were effecting the arrests. We believe that the manner in which they conducted themselves was in conflict with the law. As much as we will be cooperating with the investigations, the police should conduct their investigations within the ambits of the law.  

As we have said before, we will not tolerate any corruption and stealing of our members’ hard earned money. If indeed any of the arrested officials have been implicated in whatever wrong doing, the law should take its course. We will be keeping a close eye on the case and will communicate as and when more information is available.

Statement issued by Pule Molalenyane, SAMWU President, 13 October 2015