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NMB Metro Police Force by 1 April 2016

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“You cannot fly a plane without a pilot!”

In council on Wednesday 9 March Mayor Danny Jordaan announced that the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro police force would be operational on 1 April 2016.

Predictably this sparked rage by members of the council who berated the metro for their recent ‘rent-a-cop’ programme.

Jordaan said the delay has been as a result of a reshuffle within the unit, which saw two people stepping down and clarifying by saying the need to appoint the head of the metro police saying; “You cannot fly a plane without a pilot.”

“The matter of police is the matter that we need to finalize and get the police on the streets. The delay of course as this country knows the fact that the head of security has changed over the last few months and today as a special item on this special and urgent meeting we want to finalize this matter as a matter of urgency. By April we should have the people on the streets,” says Jordaan.

Council members were not impressed. United Democratic Movement (UDM) councilor, Mongameli Bobani says such promises have been made in the past.

Bobani said, “Ever since he took over office he’s been saying that about metro police. Last year we were expecting the metro police to be launched and also he’s always saying that the metro police will be launched and then they keep postponing. We are hoping that this time he’s telling the residents of the metro the truth and that really this metro police are going to happen.”

Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance (DA) caucus leader, Retief Odendaal also showed no faith in the mayor’s announcement saying that there is no budget for the metro police and will wait and see.

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.