The Department of Labour has threatened to shut down the SA Police Union amid allegations that Sapu leaders turned the organisation into a loan scheme.
The Times reported in October that union members were calling for a forensic audit alleging that members of the union's national executive had authorised loans to their colleagues to finance their cars.
The department has given the union until next month to respond to these and other allegations, and to back up their explanations with proof.
In a letter to the union, the Registrar of Labour Relations wrote: "According to the guidelines issued by the Minister of Labour . the Registrar may cancel the registration of your trade union by removing its name from the appropriate register if the organisation is not, or has ceased to function, as a genuine trade union or has failed to comply with the provisions of section 98, 99 and 100 of the Act."
Sapu spokesman Siya Seneke was unavailable for comment yesterday.
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