Cops left wtih R28 after 'unlawful' rental deductions

THE Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) say they've been made aware of deductions imposed on members' wages for rent after the officers moved out of the barracks in the Western Cape, leaving them with only R28 in their bank accounts.

- GENEVIEVE SERRA

The group of 24 members approached the Cape Argus as a last resort to their financial woes, claiming they've been footing the bill for rental of police barracks in Parkhof in Kenilworth since 2022 following an eviction.

The police officers are former tenants of the premises and claim their accounts are being debited R4000 to R8000 a month.

They said they have communicated their plight with head office, human resources, commanders, Popcru and the South African Policing Union (Sapu), but this has fallen on deaf ears.

In a statement, the officers, who are not allowed to speak to the media, said they had no alternative but to express how they felt.

"This matter started at the end of December 2022," they said.

"The police wanted to evict members staying in the police flats in Kenilworth.

"We as SAPS members went to the housing tribunal but we lost the case.

"We approached our unions, Popcru and Sapu, but they failed the members.