Ekurhuleni targets cops in strike showdown
GroundUp
Nearly 400 metro police officers in Ekurhuleni are facing possible dismissal after the city issued them pre-dismissal notices for participating in an unlawful strike. The municipality is cracking down hard on the officers, signaling zero tolerance for disruptions within law enforcement ranks.
The City of Ekurhuleni has served pre-dismissal notices to 389 officers from the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) after their involvement in an unlawful strike last month, which brought major highways to a standstill and triggered significant traffic chaos.
“The City of Ekurhuleni has commenced disciplinary measures against 389 Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department officers following their participation in an illegal strike and blockade of critical highways on March 19, 2025,” City spokesperson, Zweli Dlamini confirmed.
EMPD officers brought traffic to a grinding halt while demanding better overtime pay and salary hikes. Viral clips and photos showed armed officers in uniform blocking vehicles, hoisting signs that read: “Adjust our salaries or take your guns.”
Major traffic snarl-ups hit key routes as protesters blocked the R24 westbound between OR Tambo and Electron interchanges, along with every lane of the N3 northbound between Heidelberg and Elands, bringing traffic to a crawl.
Dlamini confirmed that the officers are being charged with serious misconduct for illegally blocking major highways including the R21, N12, N17, and N3. The protest not only brought traffic to a standstill, stranding thousands of commuters, but also disrupted access to OR Tambo International Airport — a National Key Point — causing delays to flights and impacting regional travel.
All officers involved have been placed on suspension and instructed to hand over city-owned vehicles, service firearms, and access cards while they await the results of disciplinary proceedings.
He added that the city has partnered with the South African Police Service to maintain law enforcement operations, in line with an existing memorandum of understanding with the national police ministry.
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