TUESDAY, 1.30PM:
THE South African Police Service is considering cutting 10000 jobs in terms of chief executive Meyer Kahn’s new strategic plan, which was slated in Parliament on Monday by the South African Police Union.
But divisional commissioner Neels Steenkamp said Kahn has been misunderstood, and that the 10000 figure refers to natural attrition over five years.
Union representative Andy Miller told Parliament’s safety and security committee that cutting jobs when they are most needed will cripple a service already suffering from low morale and absenteeism.
Miller pointed out that Safety and Security Minister Sydney Mufamadi’s own white paper calls for more policemen. He also said the performance of many senior force members is probably compromised by the severance packages many will be receiving over the next two years.
“These persons should, regardless of financial constraints, be told to leave immediately,” said Miller.
Miller also complained about management antagonism towards the union, and a lack of commitment to affirmative action: “The SAPS has yet to accept the principle of co-determination; it has yet to train its managers in labour relations.”
Miller pointed out that around 10000 policemen are currently opening gates in Parliament and justice department buildings, cutting corpses in mortuaries, and doing administrative work rather than police work. He suggested that properly paying police and giving them adequate logistical support will motivate them to do better work.