And while the Brigadier enjoys his time off…A Johannesburg station commander, who has been accused of bunking work, has allegedly been on leave for about 156 days – all in just two years.
Since his appointment as the station commander of Jeppestown police station in February 2014 until February this year, Brigadier Govindsamy Mariemuthoo, an Indian, has been absent from work for about 30 percent of the time.
He has allegedly taken 70 vacation days, 64 days’ temporary incapacity leave and 22 days’ sick leave.
The area topped the list as one of the most dangerous places in Gauteng, with 72 murders being recorded in the 2014/2015 year.
When The Star visited the station on Monday, an officer, who did not want to named, said the brigadier was not at work as he was still on leave.
Community Safety MEC Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane’s official written reply in the Gauteng legislature said the officer was off work for 64 days due to a knee injury.
Mariemuthoo’s absentee rate is alarming as the station operated in an area plagued by drug dealing and other serious crimes.
He was absent for more than 30 percent of the time, which is excessive and affects the functioning of the station in a high crime area, critics say.
According to the police’s crime statistics from April 2014 to March 2015, the total number of crimes reported was 6 678, with 72 murders being recorded during the 2014/2015 year.
Mariemuthoo is a poor example to his colleagues as the station suffered from a 14 percent general absenteeism rate.
In June 2013, a media report revealed the Benoni area was left without a station commander after Brigadier Mariemuthoo left it amid complaints of prolonged absence from duty. This was after he was transferred to Jeppestown police station.
Figures revealed in the Gauteng legislature at the time showed that during his tenure in Benoni, Mariemuthoo had taken 106 days’ sick leave, 39 days’ study leave, 122 days’ normal vacation and capped leave, and three days’ family responsibility leave.
He was however reinstated following a Labour Court ruling, and later transferred to Jeppestown police station.
Source: IOL