Station
commander gets the boot
KNYSNA
NEWS - Knysna SAPS station commander, Colonel Nolan Michaels has been
dismissed. However, residents in the jurisdiction served by the Knysna Police
remain in the dark regarding the full circumstances that motivated the
dismissal of Colonel Michaels.
Following several attempts to gain information in the public's interest, the SAPS Corporate Communication Centre issued only this statement: "The officer was dismissed on March 1, 2013 at a departmental hearing for sexual harassment. The chairperson was Brigadier NomthethelileMene of Stellenbosch and the employee representative was Colonel Cornel Sutherland of Milnerton. The hearing was held in Stellenbosch."
The SAPS declined to answer pertinent questions such as when Michaels' termination would become effective, whether he would remain eligible to receive police pension, whether he had the right to appeal the decision and whether there were other charges against him. Prompted to shed light on these matters, the police's reply was, "The South African Police Service can unfortunately not give any comment on the details relating to the disciplinary procedures as this is viewed to be an internal matter."
Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Matiwane has been appointed as Knysna's acting station commander.
It is not the first time that an apparent lack of transparency concerning police matters set the local rumour mill in motion. Public speculation was rife in November last year, when Michaels was replaced by a former Knysna station commander, Colonel Mzimkulu Hardy.
At the time, Captain Malcolm Pojie (South Cape SAPS media liaison) said that Hardy and Michaels temporarily "swapped, a decision imposed by the provincial commissioner's office". Hardy commenced duties in Knysna and Michaels at Thembalethu in George on November 8 and 14 respectively. The explanation provided by the SAPS: "We are not at liberty to discuss any reason with the media nor with the public in general."
Early this year, on January 2, Michaels resumed duties at the Knysna Police Station. All efforts to gain clarity on the situation via the local and provincial police communication offices failed.
In the meantime, Colonel Hardy who has also been the topic of much controversial speculation and allegations, resigned from the police on February 22. This was followed by a confirmation of his resignation and a familiar phrase from Colonel TembinkosiKinana, SAPS commander of Media Communications: "Regarding the allegations made against him, the SAPS would not like to give comment on internal investigations that are taking place against a member."
Following several attempts to gain information in the public's interest, the SAPS Corporate Communication Centre issued only this statement: "The officer was dismissed on March 1, 2013 at a departmental hearing for sexual harassment. The chairperson was Brigadier NomthethelileMene of Stellenbosch and the employee representative was Colonel Cornel Sutherland of Milnerton. The hearing was held in Stellenbosch."
The SAPS declined to answer pertinent questions such as when Michaels' termination would become effective, whether he would remain eligible to receive police pension, whether he had the right to appeal the decision and whether there were other charges against him. Prompted to shed light on these matters, the police's reply was, "The South African Police Service can unfortunately not give any comment on the details relating to the disciplinary procedures as this is viewed to be an internal matter."
Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Matiwane has been appointed as Knysna's acting station commander.
It is not the first time that an apparent lack of transparency concerning police matters set the local rumour mill in motion. Public speculation was rife in November last year, when Michaels was replaced by a former Knysna station commander, Colonel Mzimkulu Hardy.
At the time, Captain Malcolm Pojie (South Cape SAPS media liaison) said that Hardy and Michaels temporarily "swapped, a decision imposed by the provincial commissioner's office". Hardy commenced duties in Knysna and Michaels at Thembalethu in George on November 8 and 14 respectively. The explanation provided by the SAPS: "We are not at liberty to discuss any reason with the media nor with the public in general."
Early this year, on January 2, Michaels resumed duties at the Knysna Police Station. All efforts to gain clarity on the situation via the local and provincial police communication offices failed.
In the meantime, Colonel Hardy who has also been the topic of much controversial speculation and allegations, resigned from the police on February 22. This was followed by a confirmation of his resignation and a familiar phrase from Colonel TembinkosiKinana, SAPS commander of Media Communications: "Regarding the allegations made against him, the SAPS would not like to give comment on internal investigations that are taking place against a member."
