THOHOYANDOU - Tension is mounting at the Thohoyandou police station following the issuing of transfer letters to thirteen "lazy police officers."

The officers, all attached to the detective unit, received letters of transfer from the provincial office on May 13. The officers, who are being transferred to different police stations in the far north, were told to report to their new stations as from June 6.

The letters further indicate that the transfer was made in line with service delivery. Snr Supt Motlafela Mojapelo confirmed that the officers are being transferred, because "they are not performing."

He said it is hoped that the officers will improve where they are going as they might have relaxed in Thohoyandou because they were there for too long. However, the officers told Mirror that they were being targeted by the Station Commissioner, Director Justice Tshiisaphungo.

Captain Ndivhuwo Auriel Mathagu (45), one of the officers who is being transferred to Musina, said Tshiisaphungo was against anyone who tried to challenge his decisions in the station. Mathagu also wrote a letter of complaint to the MEC, Ms Dikeledi Magadzi, raising the same concern last week. He also said Tshiisaphungo was blaming him for releasing David Thidiela after his arrest last week. The spokesperson for MEC Magadzi, Emmanuel Matidze, confirmed that the MEC had received a letter of complaint from Mathagu.

Popcru Provincial Secretary, Hamilton Sengwana, also supported Mathagu's allegations. Sengwana said, "Since Monday, Tshiisaphungo has been telling our members that 'I do not want you in my station'. He told them to go to their new areas."

"This clearly indicates that the man has a personal agenda against these officers. However, we want to stress that these officers are not going anywhere until we meet with the deputy provincial commissioner Celiwe Binta, who is on leave until, Monday. As Popcru, we have given the deputy commissioner an option of meeting us on June 9 or 13. Our position is that, as it is alleged the officers are not performing, the solution cannot be to transfer them," he said.

According to him, they do not think the communities of the areas to which they have been transferred need lazy police. The management must train these people, as they need to be empowered. Transferring them won't solve the problem, he added.

Steven Nemusibi of the South African Police Union (Sapu) supported Sengwana by saying the department must train the officers so that they can meet the required standard. He added that supervisors of these members should also be challenged for failing to do their job of making the members perform.

However, Mojapelo said he was not aware of the meeting between Binta and Popocru. As such, he said the transfer would be effective. "The transfers will be effected as they are. The purpose is to enhance service delivery. These members are not productive where they are. Staying in one place for a long time sometimes makes one to relax. We have our own internal measures which will be applied against the supervisors of these transferred members," said Mojapelo.