DA issues warning over police reservists
Police reservists will feel like “second-class volunteers” and will resign en masse if a draft national instruction on the South African Reserve Police Service comes into force, the Democratic Alliance said on Thursday.
According to the instruction, reservists will no longer be utilised to perform day-to-day policing and will have to wear a uniform that distinguishes them from full-time officers.
“If this draft goes forward in its present form, the functioning of the [South African Police Service] will be hampered and it will have serious consequences for security in South Africa,” DA MP Dianne Kohler Barnard said.
“We consider these draft proposals to be extremely offensive towards the brave men and women who voluntarily give of their time to protect the rest of us.”
According to the instruction, reservist uniforms, insignia, badges and buttons will “clearly distinguish them from permanent members”.
“Reservists perform the same duties as permanent members and have always worn SAPS uniforms,” Kohler-Barnard said.
“This will rip apart any notion of a team.
“Many reservists feel that this makes them ‘second-class volunteers’ and will lead to massive resignations.”
Another complaint from reservists was that the instruction would confine reservists to sectors and “limit their abilities”.
“It will also mean that reservists will not be able to be deployed to areas where they are most needed,” she said.
Kohler Barnard said she would write to Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa to ask him to review the proposals in the national instruction.
Inkatha Freedom Party MP Velaphi Ndlovu said reservists should “not have their hands tied for no good reason”.
“Without them, many stations would simply not cope,” he said.
“At a time when even South Africa’s president has lamented that crime is extraordinarily pervasive and violent, it makes no sense that the department of police should want to forfeit the help of 53 200 reservists.”
Ndlovu said the commitment to more visible policing would also be dealt a blow if reservists were differentiated from police officers, “as having different uniforms will lessen their perceived authority”.—Sapa
