Workers, metro cops protest in Durban

2012-07-20 14:07

A Samwu protester (Nardus Engelbrecht, Sapa)

Durban - Several hundred municipal workers and eThekwini metro police officers staged a protest outside the Durban City Hall on Friday.

The SA Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) is calling for the resignation of eThekwini metro police chief Eugene Nzama.

Durban's main street Dr Pixley Ka Seme Road (formerly West Street) was blocked to traffic as the 400-strong group of protesters protested on the road outside City Hall.

Several of the protesters carried signs calling for Nzama's resignation and the reinstatement of school patrols. There was much chanting and singing, and municipal CCTV cameras outside the City Hall could be seen filming the protesters.

On Thursday, Samwu regional secretary Nhlanhla Nyandeni said that they would go ahead with the lunchtime picket, despite not officially have been informed that they had been granted permission.
Members of the SA Police Service monitored the protest.

Both police officers and taxi drivers have been calling for Nzama to stand down. Nzama returned to work last Monday after being placed on special leave earlier this year.

The city's disaster management head, Vincent Ngubane, had replaced Nzama.

Nzama, however, approached the Durban Labour Court to challenge his special leave and resumed his duties in July.

In May, taxi drivers went on a violent strike, claiming the eThekwini metro officers were unfairly targeting them.

- SAPA