Durban metro police Head of Specialised Enforcement Rajen Chin, holds up his qualifications to prove his suitability for this post. Picture: Zail Singh Durban metro police Head of Specialised Enforcement Rajen Chin, holds up his qualifications to prove his suitability for this post. Picture: Zail Singh
‘It stinks of racism!’
That's the view of metro police top cop Rajen Chin after a highly publicised debacle over whether he was suitably qualified for his position as Head of Specialised Enforcement within the police service.
His appointment last year prompted members of the South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) to lodge a grievance against his appointment to the top job.
Samwu said that the application process used to appoint Chin was flawed as he did not possess the necessary qualifications for the job and that he was appointed because of his close relationship with metro police boss Eugene Nzama.
However, this week Chin came out guns blazing, saying the attack on his credibility as a suitable candidate for the job was unfounded and that he believed it was racially motivated.
“I have served the police department for 25 years and worked my way up the ranks.
“I earned my stripes and my promotion. I can't understand why all of a sudden my qualifications are being questioned.
“It seems to me that there is a racist motive behind this. It was my time for my promotion and I believe I deserved it,” said Chin.
He added that his experience and qualifications enhanced his suitability for the position.
“My qualifications are suited to the job. I have had four previous promotions and my qualifications were never questioned so it's very strange that it has become an issue now,” he said.
Chin went on to say that people within the metro dolice department were jealous of his relationship with Nzama and were looking for ways to get rid of him.
“Commissioner Nzama knows my character and he knows my work ethic. People who are on the other side misconstrue this. We respect each other professionally and that's all there is to it,” said Chin.
He said the long drawn out saga had demotivated him and caused him endless emotional stress.
“I have always given my heart and soul to the metro police. This attack on my credibility has really affected me on a personal level. It's very embarrassing when your suitability is being questioned in public even when you know you have done nothing wrong,” said Chin.
He returned to work this week after an inquiry into the allegations was concluded. The inquiry headed by the municipality's Cyril Mkwanazi asked Chin to produce his qualifications which he did.
His proposed redeployment was then cancelled. eThekwini municipality's spokesman Thabo Mofokeng, said that new municipal manager Sibusiso Sithole had not addressed the matter with Samwu as yet.
“The municipal manager has yet to discuss this matter with the parties concerned. As it stands, there is no evidence that any of the municipality's processes were flawed,” said Mofokeng.
Meanwhile Samwu poured scorn over Chin's notion that there were racist motives behind their protests.
“He can say whatever he wants to say. We will not accept his appointment and will not entertain his use of the race card,” said SAMWU's Provincial Secretary, Jaycee Ncanana. He added that they maintained their opposition to Chin's appointment. “His appointment was a reward for being in cahoots with the Head of metro Police. We still believe that his appointment was the wrong one,” he said.
In December last year, members of Samwu threatened to go on strike until Nzama, Chin, and Human Resources manager Monty Naidoo were removed from their positions.
They alleged that Naidoo and Nzama were guilty of misconduct and that Chin was not suitably qualified for his position.
Chin has vowed to continue to fight for his job and maintains that he is the best man for the job.
“If I have done something wrong then I don’t mind them questioning my credibility but I am confident that I deserved this position and I will continue to fight for it,” said Chin. - POST