EFF RATIKWANE’S OPEN LETTER REGARDING IRREGULARITIES AT TMPD

RE: URGENT DEMAND FOR FORENSIC INVESTIGATION INTO ALLEGED IRREGULARITIES IN THE TMPD RECRUITMENT PROCESS AND IMMEDIATE
PAUSE OF APPOINTMENTS

Cllr Godwin Ratikwane
Chairperson of the Section 79 Municipal Public Accounts Committee and EFF Tshwane chief Whip photo supplied

By Godwin Ratikwane
EFF Tshwane Caucus Chief Whip

Dear City Manager, Chief of Police, and Deputy Chief of Police,I write to you with deep concern and a firm sense of responsibility regarding serious
allegations emerging from the recent Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD)
trainee recruitment process.

It has come to my attention, through formal complaints and supporting
documentation, that the recruitment process may have been compromised by
irregularities that threaten the integrity, credibility, and lawfulness of the entire exercise.

The allegations include, but are not limited to, the following:

1.Irregular progression of candidates – Individuals who allegedly did not complete or pass the physical fitness assessment were permitted to proceed
to the English proficiency test stage.

2.Leakage of the English proficiency test paper.

There are serious claims that the English test paper was leaked prior to or during the assessment process,thereby compromising the fairness and integrity of the evaluation.

3.Lack of transparency and feedback Numerous applicants have reportedly
not received formal feedback regarding their performance, yet it is alleged
that approximately 30 individuals have already signed contracts and commenced training.

4.Selective commencement of trainees

It is deeply concerning that a group
of approximately 30+ individuals reportedly began training on the 18th,
despite the broader applicant pool not receiving official communication regarding final outcomes.

If proven true, these allegations point to possible violations of:

1.The Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998, particularly Section 5 relating to unfair discrimination.

2.The Promotion of Administrative Justice Act (PAJA) regarding lawful,
reasonable, and procedurally fair administrative action.

3.The Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) concerning transparency and accountability.

4.Municipal recruitment and governance policies.

The integrity of TMPD recruitment cannot be questioned in a city already facing public scrutiny around governance and accountability.

The appointment of law enforcement officers must be beyond reproach.

Any perception of favouritism, nepotism, corruption, or procedural manipulation severely damages public trust.

DEMANDS

In the interest of transparency, fairness, and institutional integrity, I hereby formally call for:

1.Immediate Pause of Further Appointments

All further trainee appointments and onboarding processes must be suspended
pending the outcome of an independent investigation.

2.Independent Forensic Investigation
An urgent, independent forensic investigation must be commissioned to examine:

•The integrity of the physical fitness assessment process.
•The alleged leakage of the English proficiency test.
•The shortlisting and final selection methodology.
•The contractual signing of the reported 30+ candidates.
•Compliance with all applicable legislation and municipal policies.

This investigation must be conducted by an external, impartial body to ensure
credibility and independence.

3.Transparent Disclosure of Process

A comprehensive report outlining:

•The selection criteria,
•Scoring methodology,
•Pass thresholds,
•Moderation processes,
•And anonymised assessment data must be submitted to the Mayoral Committee and made available in accordance with PAIA provisions.

4.Individual Feedback to All Applicants
All candidates must receive formal written feedback regarding:

•Their physical assessment results,
•Their English proficiency test results,
•Their overall evaluation outcome.

The people of Tshwane deserve a recruitment process that is transparent, fair, and beyond manipulation.

Our metro police officers must be appointed based on merit, integrity, and compliance with the law not through irregular or opaque processes.

Failure to decisively address these concerns will not only erode public trust but may expose the municipality to legal challenges and reputational damage.

This matter must be treated with urgency and seriousness.

I request a written response within 7 working days outlining the immediate steps that will be taken.

The City of Tshwane cannot afford even the perception of corruption within its law enforcement recruitment systems.