BY Obakeng Maje

In the media on 05 June 2010, a false report and serious allegations were made against the South African Police Service in the North West. A former policeman by the name of Itumeleng Tladi who is a Sangoma alleged that he was victimised and pushed to resign because he is a Sangoma.

As the North West Police, we have conducted our investigation regarding Itumeleng Tladi and his resignation.

We would like to categorically deny all allegations made against  the Police.

We see them as malicious, and causing serious harm to the image of the South African Police in general. Mr Tladi was never forced to resign.

The Police are in possession of his resignation letter. Mr Tladi left work and went to Sangoma School for a period of six months, without reporting to his commander nor the employer. His salary was then suspended for six months in June 2011 as leave without pay.

Mr Tladi was warned not to commit a similar offence. On his return an internal hearing for misconduct was held on the 17 January 2012 concerning Tladi’s behaviour and to deal with him for absconding work.

He was found guilty and fined a five year suspended sentence.

“The disciplinary committee instructed Mr Tladi to report for duty on the 18^th January 2012.He did not have any resource for his actions as he started developing strange behaviour of leaving work to go and attend to his patients and he was warned. Mr Tladi later left for a week after applying for leave and before his commander could approve, Mr Tladi was gone for a week.

The division of SAPS Employee Health and Wellness (EHW) contacted Mr Tladi to engage with him if he as any personal problems. The former policeman confirmed that his Sangoma calling will make him enough money to sustain himself. He further informed EHW that he was on the verge of opening a business and that would be enough for him to sustain his socio-economic needs. Attempts by EHW fell on deaf ears when they tried to persuade Mr Tladi not to leave the Service. He was contented with his move even when a question of his children was raised. His words were that he did not need SAPS money because Amakhosi will look after him and his family financially” Brigadier Ngubane said.

Since the 12 April until 7 May 2012 Tladi’s commander went on leave when she came back she was told that Tladi has never reported on duty ever since she (his commander) went on leave.

Tladi was questioned by his commander about this but he never gave a written report about this. Instead, Tladi went to Mmakau Cluster to hand over his resignation letter.

He never approached his station concerning the resignation letter.Tladi’s firearm was never taken away from him because he never owned one, he never applied for a firearm because he did not own a safe at his house.

He was using a state firearm he had to leave it in the Station when he was knocking of duty.

It is our understanding that Mr Tladi may be regretting his decision to leave work, and Amakhosi and the undisclosed business venture could not take off well and could no longer provide for his wife who has since left him.

Tladi challenges cannot be twisted and made the problems of the SAPS. The South African Police Service is a caring organisation with a track record on this front. As Mr Tladi puts it we have many religious people as employees of the service from our estimated workforce of 200 000, who practice different norms and cultural beliefs.

These employees are never isolated nor victimised, they are urged to conform to the SAPS, policies and standards.

They are free to do their  private work and cultural practices outside of work. Mr Tladi seems to be keen on taking the opportunity that as announced by the Minister that he is on the drive to skill and upgrade FCS units in the Police.

Mr Tladi as a former member of the South African Police Service is more than welcome to re-apply for re-admission into the Service.

He should be familiar with our application processes, and if he is successful he would be expected to perform his duties in line with the labour laws and within the confines of SAPS policies.

 We could not get Mr TladI’s respond before going to press.