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Cop appealing f-word dismissal

2008-07-24 08:38

Mike van Rooyen

Bloemfontein - The Free State policeman who swore in front of a senior officer has now officially been dismissed from the police force, after the provincial commissioner ratified the sentence he had been given after an internal disciplinary hearing.

Dismayed police officers said on Wednesday that there was more behind the discharge of Superintendent Gary Wrensch of the provincial information system management than just the f-word that he had used in front of his immediate superior, Senior Superintendent Alfred Mokalake.

Acting provincial communications head Superintendent Sam Makhele confirmed that Commissioner Amos Mashigo had signed off on Wrensch's dismissal a week ago at the disciplinary hearing.

From the police force's perspective, he is no longer in the service.

'Shockingly inappropriate punishment'

Advocate André Gerber, legal advisor for the South African Police Union in the Free State, Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, said earlier that he had given notification that Wrensch would lodge an appeal against his "shockingly inappropriate punishment".

Makhele said if Wrensch appealed, he would be suspended, without salary and benefits, pending the result of the appeal.

Police force members have said that if every police officer was dismissed for swearing in front of a superior, there would be no police officers left.

Some have speculated that "someone" had a reason for getting rid of Wrensch, as he did not always go with the flow and spoke out if he disagreed with someone.

Others believed that a complaint that Wrensch had laid against another officer had led to his dismissal.

Some claimed that one of the clerks he had complained about is a relative of a staff member in the office of the MEC for safety and security. They could not give the names of these people.

Wrensch was known for helping out police members regarding the computer system used in the Free State, and was instrumental in setting it up. He was regarded as very capable, according to sources.

- Volksblad

Comments have been closed for this article.

Realist 7/24/2008 8:59:23 AM
This must be the most absurd dismissal yet, that the commission ratified it, is an acknowledgement of their bias and total incompetence.
Da Cellab 7/24/2008 8:59:54 AM
This is just another corruption case in the government. Makhele said if Wrensch appealed, he would be suspended, without salary and benefits, pending the result of the appeal. What the hell does Makhele think he is? God of the police force. There should be a thourough investigation on this and Wrensch should have a fair hearing.... this is just wrong.
Tim 7/24/2008 9:00:24 AM
As police officer in the New South Africa you may coerce bribes, sell criminal dockets, steal citizens belongings, fail to uphold the law, abuse state assets, drive without a valid license etc but good (Choose Deity of your choice) you use the word "Oh Fornicatus" [oh fuck] and dont say "Oh Merde" [Oh Shit] or dont tell some one "Hey you Mentula and verpa" [aka :Hey you Dickhead)... "Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity."
Godfrey 7/24/2008 9:03:52 AM
"Some claimed that one of the clerks he had complained about is a relative of a staff member in the office of the MEC ...They could not give the names of these people".Can't a person be dismissed without a conspiracy theory these days?Reminds me of rumours that Mugabe's wife is related to Mbeki's wife,that's why he doesn't shout at him,and of course the rumours are not true.
Sean 7/24/2008 9:04:18 AM
and I am sure there are more sides to this story. However at face value, smacks of racism or at least some sort of personal grudge agains Wrensch. I am afraid that "helpful and very capable" are no longer criteria to be employed, especially if you are a white male... in SA, today. Crying racism??... no..stating a fact!!
Fatcats...purrrfect 7/24/2008 9:16:41 AM
And Selebi has way more serious allegations against him, and he gets his contract extended by Mbeki....We need all the cops we can get, and they fire him, because he said, fuck you, eishhh....wtf?
scorpion 7/24/2008 9:20:07 AM
It is because some idiots think that they can use swear words anytime anyhow because they have no respect to this government, and they think they will hold the gov at ransom that this person is skilled, no one is indispensable.If rude get rid of him set an example that rudeness will not be tolerated
jerry 7/24/2008 9:20:33 AM
losing another good cop when there are so few of them left.but old Jackie gets his contract renewed for another year ,even though he is suspended on full pay mind you . my stomach turns at this discrimination. sue the pants of them , Mr Wrensch.
Rommel 7/24/2008 9:22:05 AM
So, if we look at the news lately it is better to shoot at the superior, ala jhb metro, or strike, blocking all the freeways and then be suspended for 6 months, full pay than swearing in front, not at, but in front of a superior? Would love to hear the other side of this story.
Yvonne 7/24/2008 9:25:01 AM
The officer who "arranged" the WHITE Policeman's dismissal can't stand the fact that his intelligence has once again been questioned!!!! Does he know the meaning of the "F" word or does it mean sorry I'm not falling for your jokes anymore. This is disgusting and if anyone should be fired it should be the arsehole who said "You'r Fired"
Zane 7/24/2008 9:28:14 AM
Now honestly can you still deny Black on white racism... time to smell the coffee people
Frikkie 7/24/2008 9:28:36 AM
Is Makhele an idiot? How can someone be dismissed and then after an appeal is lodged, being suspended without being reinstated first?
NowOrNever 7/24/2008 9:28:45 AM
This happened to me to about 8 years ago. I didn't appeal but went straight to the CCMA. I won so much money in settlement I still have some on investments. Hit them hard.
Yvonne 7/24/2008 9:29:05 AM
Oh my Goodness - the F word can stand for so many things like - Funny Face; Fart Face,; Fanagalore; but what is really stands for is that the Pilce Force Officers appear to be TOTALLY F......Up.
marian van der walt 7/24/2008 9:29:40 AM
the senior most probley gave him ar reason to swear. i know what it is like to discomet
Watchdog 7/24/2008 9:33:10 AM
What a joke! "From the police force's perspective, he is no longer in the service" The SAPS is no longer a force! This has been so since 1994!
James 7/24/2008 9:35:57 AM
Supt Meyers, former head of the dog unit in Cape Town was fires for a similar petty transgression. Its all to get rid of any remaining white officers and replace them with incompetence. When will these idiots ever learn that you cannot replace experience? Even reservist white officers were dismissed as there were not enough black officers ? this in a voluntary organisation!!!!!
Jez 7/24/2008 9:37:09 AM
Swear and get fired! Maybe Sup. Wrench should have murdered, smuggled drugs and stolen the computer system he helped set up instead. At least he would have been sent on a paid holiday!! I hope he sues the Govt. and that he gets a nice sum to retire on. Wake up scorpion, are you honestly going to sit there and say that you have never sworn at work?!?!?
Tuffy 7/24/2008 9:37:56 AM
In your exalted opinion; is rudeness a more deserved reason to terminate someone's employment, or is any of fraud, corruption, dishonesty, theft, incompetence or failure to arrive for work more deserved?
PRIGO 7/24/2008 9:38:29 AM
This is 2008 and people shouldn`t label every conflict between black and white as racism. Its just pure hate or grudge.
Hendrik 7/24/2008 9:40:13 AM
And Selebi's contract is renewed, so that he can have free representation. What a disgrace.
Scorpion King(ky?) 7/24/2008 9:41:57 AM
CCMA? One's thing's for sure, Scorpion can apparently only read every second line. What a pointless comment? What kind of mod let that comment in here anyway?
petepan 7/24/2008 9:53:54 AM
Something?s definitely cooking here, maybe just the normal corruption thing, nothing too serious. Looking at our beloved Selebi and 100s more, I didn't think it's possible to get a dismissal when part of the police force. Maybe the guy was just too good a cop, and we don't want any of those around now do we.
Politician 7/24/2008 9:54:21 AM
White's "dicsriminating" against, and being "unfair" to Blacks are deemed as RACISM. The reverse of Black on White is seen as APARTHEID. Just another way of ensuring that Whites will have NO PLACE in any area of business in South Africa within the next 2 years.
petepan 7/24/2008 9:54:46 AM
Something?s definitely cooking here, maybe just the normal corruption thing, nothing too serious. Looking at our beloved Selebi and 100s more, I didn't think it's possible to get a dismissal when part of the police force. Maybe the guy was just too good a cop, and we don't want any of those around now do we.
rich 7/24/2008 9:54:52 AM
So if Mr Wrensch was only guilty of swearing then he shouldn't have lost his job. But if God forbid he complained about a family member of a prominent MEC. FIRE HIM!!!!
Jann 7/24/2008 9:58:00 AM
It's amazing how quickly a police officer can be fired for swearing when bribery and corruption charges mean months of suspension on full pay!!
VG 7/24/2008 9:58:16 AM
..this "punishment" is so OTT. I remember a story where a woman was raped repeatedly in police custody because the A*sh*les put her in a male jail cell -and then failed to do the rounds as they are supposed to. All involved were suspended with pay for 3 months. He lets his language slip and he's fired for it? def more going on here
Sam 7/24/2008 10:00:40 AM
White people think it is normal not to respect black people (obvoiusly that is how they were raised). That is exactly why this police man used that kind of language in front of his superior. I work with white people and I see such behavior every day. Stop this nonsense. Learn to respect everyone.
Ndoda 7/24/2008 10:02:39 AM
Now can you feel how it is to be discriminated? it hurts neh??? FYI it has been happening to black people for years and it is still happening
Terry 7/24/2008 10:04:17 AM
I dont know how times i've been stopped & harassed by white police officers...get rid of those F**** racists!!!

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