2024

SAPU CONDEMNS THE MANNER OF EXECUTION ON THE ARRESTS OF POLICE BY IDAC

Mon, 08 Jul 2024 10:02:18 GMT

SAPU CONDEMNS THE MANNER OF EXECUTION ON THE ARRESTS OF POLICE BY

IDAC

The South African Policing Union (SAPU) would like to join the South African

citizenry in welcoming the long awaited cabinet announcement made by

President Cyril Ramaphosa. We are particularly pleased by the appointment of

Senzo Mchunu as the new Police Minister, Dr Pieter Groenewald as the new

Minister of Correctional Services, Ms Barbara Creecy as the new Minister of

Transport and the newly appointed Public Service and Administration Minister

Inkosi Mzamo Buthelezi. In welcoming Minister Mchunu into the Police Ministry,

SAPU commends the President for retaining Deputy Minister Cassel Mathale as

institutional memory is of paramount importance in terms of taking the Ministry

forward.

The appointment of a second Deputy Minister Polly Boshielo is a positive step in

terms of sharng responsibilities as this Ministry is huge. We believe this step will

strengthen and power the police Ministry and therefore improve service delivery.

We have worked will with Minister Mchunu since his days as the then Public

Service and Administration Minister. His consultative leadership style has been a

contributing factor in the relations he had with organized labour. Our inter-action

with him in the Public Service Co-ordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC) showed

us he is a man of integrity.

SAPU calls upon Minister Mchunu to walk in his lane and not interfere with

operational business of the police as that responsibility constitutionally lies with

the national police commissioner. We do not want a police Minister who behaves

like he or she is the national commissioner.

It the spirit of mutual respect and recognition that Minister Mchunu had whilst in

the DPSA that SAPU calls upon the incoming Minister Inkosi Buthelezi to take.

We expect no favours from Minister Buthelezi except the recognition of organized

labour as important stakeholders. We call upon Minister Buthelezi to revive the

strained relations we are having with the employer as workers we are still nursing

the hurt of seeing the gains of the past like collective bargaining being

undermined by the previous administration.

Dr. Groenewald is not completely new in the security sector as he once a

member of the Police portfolio committee. We would like to give him an

opportunity to provide leadership to the department of Correctional Service

(DCS). The multiple challenges within the DCS are not only over-crowding that

need his urgent attention, we have a department that is over worked. The ratio of

Correctional Officers per prisoner is way above the acceptable international

standard and that compromises service delivery.

In welcoming Minister Creecy to the Ministry of Transport SAPU is of the view

that she will amongst her priorities speed up the process of integrating and

unification of the various Traffic departments across the country. South Africa is a

unitary, the lack of uniformity in the Traffic sector is counter-productive.

We have also noted the appointment of Dr. Leon Schreiber as the new Minister of

Home Affairs that incorporates the Border Management Authority. We are

optimistic Dr. Schreiber will respect and acknowledge the role of organized labour

within the department of Home Affairs. We would also like to welcome Ms

Nomakhosazana Meth as the newly appointed Minister of Employment and

Labour. Thousands of security officers across the country are looking forward to

her changing their working conditions. These security officers are exploited,

abused by selfish security companies.

These security officers play a vital role in assisting the police, it is unfortunate that

30 years since the dawn of democracy they have not enjoyed the fruits of

freedom.

In welcoming the new political leadership SAPU calls upon these Ministers and

Deputy Ministers to hit the ground running. The time of celebrations has long

passed both the members and the communities are expecting nothing less but

the job to be done as a matter of extreme urgency. We welcome them with no

reservations at all. This is a new beginning; let us all join hands as communities

are keenly waiting for improved service delivery.

SAPU WELCOMES THE GOVERNMENT OF NATIONAL UNITY

Mon, 08 Jul 2024 09:58:11 GMT

SAPU WELCOMES THE GOVERNMENT OF NATIONAL UNITY

The South African Policing Union (SAPU) welcomes the Government of National

Unity(GNU), as today marks the inauguration of the President of the 7th

administration, President Cyril Ramaphosa, at the Union Buildings in Pretoria.

We would also like to congratulate the President on taking up the second term in

the administration of Government. We hope that this marriage of Government of

National Unity is not a marriage of convenience but that it is a marriage that will

be formidable also when coming to address issues that relates to safety and

security in this country.

We would like to see the 7th administration taking issues of safety very seriously

by ensuring that the Safety and Security Sector is fully resourced. When looking

at challenges that are facing SAPS, Border Management Authority, Traffic

department and the Department of Correctional Services which mostly relates to

budget, resources both on the human capital front, physical and any other related

challenges. Safety plays a critical role, because if the country is safe, then we can

be able to attract investors into the country who will then contribute on the

economic growth of the Republic.

SAPU is calling on the President when appointing cabinet Ministers to appoint a

woman Police Minister. This call is on the backdrop that since the Democratic

dispensation, we never had a woman Police Minister and when talking about

women emancipation, it should not only be lip service, but we should be able to

see it when coming to critical positions like those of the Police Ministry. This is an

opportune time for the President to show the country that he believes in women

leadership through the appointment of the next Minister of Police.

SAPU COMMENDS SAFETY AND SECURITY SECTOR FOR PEACEFUL ELECTIONS

Mon, 03 Jun 2024 18:23:20 GMT

The South African Policing Union (SAPU) would like to commend members of the

safety and security sector which include members of SAPS, the Border

Management Authority, Traffic Police, Metro Police, Municipal Police and Security

officers; who were working over the elections period. The peaceful environment in

which the process was conducted cannot only be attributed to the maturity of the

political system in South Africa, but also to the visible presence and effectiveness

of members of the security cluster which is highly commendable and also

includes the air wing patrol that was done by the Fidelity Security company and

other companies which played a critical part in making sure that the elections are

policed well with their resources.

We are proud of the men and women in blue who have ensured the safety and

security within the republic. We cannot thank them enough for a job well done.

We salute those men and women in specialist units like the Public Order Policing,

Tactical Response Team and National Intervention Unit as it is a well-known fact

that they work under extreme provocation, however they manage to perform their

duties within the spirit of human rights.

This collaboration of the security sector working together during elections is a

clear indication that if we work together, we can win the war against crime which

is the position we have been advocating as SAPU.

Now that the elections have been concluded, SAPU calls upon the SAPS and all

the safety and security sectors to ensure that all members who worked overtime

are duly compensated accordingly as a demotivated workforce is a recipe for

disaster. It is now the turn of the management to fulfil their side of the bargain.

SAPU is proud of all the Safety and Security Sector members including those

who were not deployed, as your names will be written in the history books as a

group of true servants and patriotic sons and daughters of our land.

SAPU WELCOMES RE-ENLISTMENT OF OFFICERS.

Mon, 13 May 2024 06:35:33 GMT

SAPU WELCOMES RE-ENLISTMENT OF OFFICERS.

The South African Policing Union welcomes the re-enlistment of experienced Members like

former detectives and Special Task Force members in the South African Police Service. This is

a long overdue development that will benefit the fight against crime in our country. As much as

we welcome this move by the SAPS we are however concerned how many officers will grab

this opportunity as most of the underlying causes of their early departure are still there. We

have been calling on the SAPS management to act swiftly in addressing structural problems

within the police department. Some of these challenges have been there for years ,National

Commissioners come and go leaving the police service with the same problems that cripple our

efforts of totally eradicating crime in our society.

It is a well-documented fact that the police are amongst the lowest paid in the entire civil

service, lack of adequate resources are some of the frustrating aspects of being an employee

in the police service. The main reason members are leaving SAPS, is the lack of career pathing

because there is no promotion policy for years, then members get frustrated to be on one rank

for a long time. Police killings are also of great concern as the Government is ignoring our call

to declare it as treason, members feel they are not safe as the law favours criminals more than

them. We will continue to bleed experienced and specialist skills to the private sector if we do

not deal with our challenges. Be that as it may, SAPU supports this initiative as a progressive

one as we should rather have too many boots on the ground than few, as it will also add to the

numbers that we are battling with.

Our human resources are lacking behind the internationally

accepted level when looking at the recommended United Nations ratio in terms of policing. The

population growth in our country makes it a necessity that we add more Police Officers in our

Police Service. Whilst we also welcomed the annual recruitment of new members, it is of great

help to have the re-enlistment of experienced officers with a proven track record rather than the

lengthy period that it takes to train new recruits.

SAPU WELCOMES THE ESTABLISHMENT AND THE LAUNCH OF BORDER MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY

Thu, 05 Oct 2023 09:14:54 GMT

SAPU WELCOMES THE ESTABLISHMENT AND THE LAUNCH OF BORDER

MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY

The South African Policing Union (SAPU) welcomes the establishment of the Border Management Authority as an Entity launched by President Cyril Ramaphosa on 2023-10-05 at Musina where there is Beit bridge port of entry, which has a high influx of cross border activities. The Border Management Authority is established in terms of part A of Schedule 3 of the Public Finance Management Act outside the Public Service with some of its functions are to facilitate and manage the legitimate movement of persons within the Border Law Enforcement area and at ports of entry. Before the establishment of the Border management authority there were gaps at all of our South African borders at Land, Sea and Airport where departments where working in silos without one knowing what the other was doing and further it posed afurther challenge when it comes to accountability which is key on law enforcement attached to border control.

We acknowledge that Border Management authority forms part of law enforcement with members who are Peace Officers and carries the responsibility to guard what goes out of and what comes into the country. This is a long overdue progressive initiative that is aimed at tightening border management by integrating a coordinated approach in managing the country's various ports of entries. We believe the previous multi-agency approach comprising multiple authorities was not effective thus Border Management Authority was established interms of the Law to close in on gaps.

SAPU fully supports the establishment of the BMA through the Border Management Authority Act of 2020 as it will in the long run assist in the long running challenge of illegal immigrants that are difficult to trace when they are alleged to have committed acts of criminality. The illegal activities that are conducted through our borders contribute in the high crime levels seen through statistics we see in this country and cannot be left without being eradicated. The functions performed like of Agriculture, Biosecurity, Immigration, and Port Health will be much more co-ordinated through the BMA under one command and control.

As much as we support this progressive initiative, SAPU is of the firm belief that the 200 Border guards already deployed to the country's borders of entry since last year and the transfer of the members from different departments through PSCBC Resolution 1 of 2023 is too little. This limited number might not yield the desired results, but in the same breath we also appreciate the 400 trainees who are being trained for BMA and we hope that the current cost containment by National Treasury will not hamper the increase of staff, therefore call upon the government to employ more Border Guards and to enable BMA to get full resources inclusive of technology to do their job.

It is a well-known fact that our borders have not been effectively managed for a lengthy period of time and therefore an aggressive approach is a necessity in order to bring meaningful changes which are needed as in yesterday. SAPU wish the Commissioner of BMA, the Management and all Border Guards across our borders on the important task bestowed on their shoulders to secure and manage our borders working hand in hand with other role players.

SAPU GOING INTO FACILITATION ON INCORPORATION OF PSAP MEMBERS INTO THE POLICE ACT

Wed, 05 Jul 2023 08:41:10 GMT

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SAPU CALLS FOR CALM IN GUMBI VILLAGE VHEMBE DISTRICT AND APPEAL FOR RESIDENTS TO GIVE POLICE OFFICERS A CHANCE TO PERFORM THEIR WORK

Fri, 24 Feb 2023 12:07:11 GMT

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SAPU IS CALLING FOR THE RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SPECIALISED UNITS IN SAPS

Mon, 20 Feb 2023 08:28:06 GMT

SAPU IS CALLING FOR THE RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SPECIALISED UNITS IN

SAPS

The South African Policing Union (SAPU) is reiterating the call for the re-establishment of

specialised units in the SAPS as they were successful in the execution of efforts to fight crime.

Previously SAPS had the best specialised units which after the closure of these units during

2008 we have since seen the high levels of crime making it difficult for the SAPS to contain

crime. The quarterly crime stats that get released by the Minister of Police, Bheki Cele clearly

shows that South Africa is like a war zone when it comes to the serious and violent crimes like

murder, robbery, rape, cash in transit, kidnappings, and other related crimes.

The recent killings witnessed, like the killings of the Musician Kiernan(AKA) Forbes and his

friend Tebello Tibs Motsoane in Kwazulu Natal on Florida Road, the 5 people who were shot

and killed in the area of Marianhill in Durban on Monday night, in the Eastern Cape over the

weekend in the area of Kwazakhele there were people shot and killed which brings the number

to 17 people shot and killed in that province alone amongst other similar crimes committed in

the country related to the same. This also goes to the high rate of Police killings who are also

being killed when on and off duty as the numbers are indeed alarming and SAPU cannot keep

quiet about it.

Most of the killings we see in this country are as a result of illegal firearms being used to

commit these crimes and a firearms unit plays a critical role in investigating illegal firearms that

are circulating in our country, which will be able to trace them and get them off the streets. We

are calling for the re-establishment of specialised units like murder and robbery, firearms unit,

Diamond, Gold and Precious Metals unit amongst others. We are also making a call for the

establishment of the Gender Based Violence specialised units in the SAPS that will be able to

be proactive in dealing with the violence against vulnerable women and children in this country.

SAPU CALLS FOR NO DEPLOYMENT OF MEMBERS AT KAYAMANDI SAPS

Wed, 15 Feb 2023 12:41:16 GMT

South African Policing Union (SAPU) in the Eastern Cape has noted with grave concern the increase in mass murders taking place in our province. This weekend several people were killed at a private birthday party in Nomjila Street, Kwazakhele. This is the third incident of mass killings in the last two weeks.

SAPU calls for the establishment of specialised units, specifically Murder and Robbery units which must focus on the mass killings which leave many families stricken with grief. These families have a right to have these killings speedily investigated and that the perpetrators are arrested and charged.

Since 2020 South African Policing Union (SAPU) has called on the SAPS management to re-establish all specialized units which were closed in 2008. The closure of these units has hindered investigations and has demoralized dedicated and committed police officers. Murder and robbery as well as serious and violent crime units were among those units closed, thus the rise in those crimes. The recent establishment of police teams to deal with specific types of crimes has vindicated SAPU’s call for specialized units to be brought back. The implications of these high crime levels and the increases are enormous, and they need to be addressed, we can’t wait we need to do this now.

Issued by: SAPU Eastern Cape

Contact: Leon Naude Provincial Secretary

SAPU EC Calls For Re-Establishment Of Specialized Units

Wed, 15 Feb 2023 11:17:23 GMT

Issued by: SAPU Eastern Cape

Contact: Leon Naude Provincial Secretary

SAPU Northern Cape Calls On Saps To Partner With All And Not Just Some In The Community To Fight Crime

Wed, 15 Feb 2023 11:14:06 GMT

The South African Policing Union in the Northern Cape is concerned about SAPS electing to collaborate with some but not all community members across all demographics in the Province to fight crime and social injustice.

As SAPU we have never expressed any qualms with SAPS about building a crime-fighting partnership with any community groups, even those that were labelled vigilante groups such as the so-called “Wanya-Tsotsi” in Kimberley.

SAPU picked up in the newspaper (DFA-Friday, February 2023 page 4) the refusal by SAPS to allow its retired Detective, Lieutenant Colonel Dolf Lourens to offer his crime detection expertise in a two-day course to the Detectives in Northern Cape. SAPS resorted to conventional red tape by responding to his offer by saying that: “to become a service provider in terms of training in the SAPS you have to be an accredited service provider”. In a telephonic interview with SAPU, Lieutenant Colonel Lourens expressed that he was asking for a mere R1500 per day for a two-day course.

There are critical issues such as social collaborating and eradication of gender-based discrimination, to name a few, which SAPU is currently addressing with SAPS management at the Provincial Consultative Forum. We have agreed to task Access Chapter 2, a human rights organisation to offer workshops to police officials about LGBTQI+ issues without further delay, and have also agreed to review the current psychometric tests to cater for all demographics. If unnecessary red tape about accreditation of trainers and training is going to delay the progress of training the police about for instance gender-based discrimination, or about successful crime detection, then the war against

gender-based violence and crime in general will never be won.

SAPU is therefore calling on SAPS management to collaborate with all, and not only some of the community members to fight crime and social injustice. The silence of SAPS over the offer by Lieutenant Colonel Lourens to offer workshop on how to successfully detect crime is seen by SAPU as hypocrisy, and SAPU is encouraging SAPS to revisit its stance on the matter. The offer of expertise is as much an opportunity to the SAPS to grab, as it is with “Wanya-Tsotsi” offering to detect crime and apprehend suspects to hand over to the police without having any ounce of police training. SAPU submits that there is no need of accreditation for both, the best interests of the South African Citizens should be paramount, and not those of some individuals.

Issued by: SAPU

Provincial Spokesperson: Mr. Blessing Tselane

Provincial Secretary: SAPU Northern Cape

SAPU CALLS ON SOUTH AFRICANS TO STAND UP AGAINST CRIMINALS WHO CAMOUFLAGE THEMSELVES AS PROTESTORS

ghcmaartens@gmail.com (Drickus Maartens) — Tue, 13 Jul 2021 09:50:31 GMT

SAPU CALLS ON SOUTH AFRICANS TO STAND UP AGAINST CRIMINALS WHO CAMOUFLAGE THEMSELVES AS PROTESTORS

The South African Policing Union (SAPU) would like to commend and salute thousands of law abiding citizens who joined the police against the rampant acts that we have seen in the country in the past 48 hours. SAPU commend all patriotic citizens who have shown through their actions that even though they had the choice of participating in the criminal acts such as looting and vandalism that are engulfing the provinces of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.

Courageous acts of law–abiding citizens vindicate SAPU’s long held motto that states: “TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE”. Unfortunately, it is impossible for police officers to succeed in bringing an end to riots in Kwa-Zulu Natal and Gauteng without the assistance of the community.

SAPU once again wants to acknowledge the constitutional rights of all South African citizens to peacefully protest as per legal requirements; as there is no political objective to justify what is currently happening.

SAPU is saluting the leadership in provinces who have stood firm in not allowing violence and looting in their provinces. We are urging citizens to not take the law into their own hands as vigilantism is also illegal.

SAPU is calling for the urgent revival of local policing forum structures in order for them to work with the police. The resurgence of Community Police Forum structures (CPFs) can be very successful if community leaders, business leaders, traditional leaders, the civil society and other non-governmental organisations all work together. The harsh reality of the past 48-hours is that many people will be left jobless, and that many others have suffer massive losses which will be either impossible or extremely difficult to recover from, further negatively influence an already unstable and fragile economy.

SAPU welcomes the announcement of the deployment of the army by the State President with reservations, and acknowledge that police officers are outnumbered. If community members were willing to obey and work together with the SAPS, there would have been no need for the deployment of the army; however, this is only a short-term solution and not sustainable.

SAPU is calling on the SAPS management to act with speed in implementing the recommendations by the multinational panel of experts that was established by SAPS as a result of the Farlam Commission of Enquiry, to assist in implementing its recommendations, as the union unfortunately has not seen much happening on the ground. SAPU further calls on all political parties to set aside any differences that they might have and unite to resolve violence that has rarely been seen in the history of the country’s democracy, as crime has no political affiliation and no colour.

The union also wants to remind people to be very careful before sending and forwarding videos and other information found on social media, as some of these videos and information are old/false and can escalate to fuel further unrests. Therefore, be vigilant, and careful to not destroy yourself by joining in on the disinformation on social media.

The SAPS is still in the back foot in terms of public order policing and crowd management, therefore SAPU commends its members who stood firm and maintained maximum discipline while being provoked. SAPU is encouraged by the fact that no one is blaming SAPS as the police is often made a scapegoat whenever there are violent protests.

If we work together as social partners in this country, crime and many other issues such as poverty and joblessness can be eradicated in South Africa, but first, South Africans will need to stand together to work towards one goal, and that is to stand firm against all criminal acts.

SAPU CALLING FOR SPECIAL COMPENSATION OF ESSENTIAL WORKERS

ghcmaartens@gmail.com (Drickus Maartens) — Thu, 01 Jul 2021 07:38:54 GMT

SAPU CALLING FOR SPECIAL COMPENSATION OF ESSENTIAL WORKERS

The South African Policing Union as part of the greater progressive civil movement would like to welcome the extensive social welfare programme as announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa to sustain millions of vulnerable South Africans in the next coming six months whilst the country is still battling the Coronavirus. The initiative by the state to revive our economic being will benefit millions of our citizens.

We want to call upon the government to consider a reasonable compensation to the hundreds of civil servants deployed as part of the essential service employees to assist the country whilst we deal with Covid-19. Those men and women in the frontline who took an oath of office in order to render not just their labour but their lives as well. Our call should not be viewed as countering or jealous of the social assistance measures the President announced.

The patriotic sons and daughters of our land have not only left their families, some sacrificing their leave, they remain in the forefront even when conditions and circumstances expose them to this dangerous invisible Covid-19. These civil servants continue to render their labour even when the employer made a U-turn and failed to implement a long overdue increment this month. We are also calling on the President to instruct the Minister of DPSA to implement the salary increments for civil servants by honouring the agreement which was reached at the PSCBC so that we motivate the morale of the members and stop wasting time fighting with each other via the dispute resolution mechanism. Workers are already in the field exposing their lives to the Covid-19. We don’t have time for unnecessary delaying tactics by the employer.

We are calling on President Ramaphosa to seek additional funding to compensate all civil servants deployed during the Covid-19. We are calling for a special allowance to be paid during the next six months. We would not want to state the figure per employee however it should be reasonable. It is clear the government cannot hide behind the excuse of lack of funds, what we are calling for is a six months’ special allowance for those in the frontline.

It would be a disaster if such essential services employees had refused deployment or if they will work to undermine their deployment. The government should avoid to create unnecessary tensions and demoralize these employees as they are the backbone of the lockdown enforcement campaign.

Issued by: Tumelo Mogodiseng

General Secretary

SAPU DISTURBED BY POLICE ARREST OVER THEFT AND CORRUPTION

ghcmaartens@gmail.com (Drickus Maartens) — Thu, 01 Jul 2021 07:36:42 GMT

SAPU DISTURBED BY POLICE ARREST OVER THEFT AND CORRUPTION

The South African Policing Union has learnt with embarrassment, shock and disbelief the arrest of six police officers for allegedly stealing more than R30 000.00 from people at a roadblock on Saturday. The officers attached to the Brooklyn and Silverton police stations, allegedly asked for a R100 bribe from a driver and two passengers after realising they were not carrying permits for travelling during lockdown. It is alleged that the officers stole the money when they were searching a car during the lockdown enforcement roadblock.

We respect the notion that we are presumed innocent until proven guilty after due processes however, this incident marks a dark history in the police. The majority of the men and women in blue are people of great integrity. They wear their blue uniform with pride and honesty. We cannot allow the good name of the police to be tarnished by few rotten elements. It must also be acknowledged that, these officers were arrested by their colleagues meaning no matter how painful it is, they were willing to arrest one of their own.

SAPU would like to call upon the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) to act impartially and not to allow itself to be influenced by either the public or the media. The IPID must act without fear or favour. We will closely monitor the IPID probe to ensure objectivity. We do want to discuss the merits of the case in the public space however, it is not practically possible for six police officers to act the same way as all of them. It is likely that the investigation will identify the culprits and they should face the law.

We would also like the authenticity of the photos circulating in various social media platforms verified. Some of these photos look as if they were manipulated. We are calling upon law abiding citizens to be on the look out of the agenda of those who manipulate photos with the sole intention of creating enmity between the police and the public. As a progressive union, we would also like to call upon police officers not to fall into the trap of corruption. The demon of asking for a bribe must be defeated by all men and women in blue. As much as we know there are two parties that constitute corruption, the corruptor and the corruptee, we urge police officers not to tarnish the good name of the police. The police career is more of a calling than a normal job. We join the police to fight crime and therefore we cannot be the ones that commit crime.

The disturbing allegations of police officers being arrested in various parts of the country are totally unacceptable. We cannot afford to have a police service that has to fight crime within its own ranks. Those few rotten elements must be dealt with accordingly. SAPU calls upon the law abiding citizenry to continue assisting the police in the fight against crime in our society.

Together we will make the difference.

Issued by: Tumelo Mogodiseng

General Secretary

SAPU CALLS ON DCS TO PROVIDE PPE’s

ghcmaartens@gmail.com (Drickus Maartens) — Thu, 01 Jul 2021 07:33:34 GMT

SAPU CALLS ON DCS TO PROVIDE PPE’s

The South African Policing Union has learnt that correctional officers in many correctional facilities around the country have been working without the necessary protective gear since the outbreak of the Coronavirus. We do not want to be considered as alarmist, however, the reckless behaviour of the Department of Correctional Services in exposing our members to infection cannot be left unchallenged.

We have received complaints from across the country from correctional officers who are concerned about their safety when reporting for duty. As much as it is public knowledge that there are infections in the Wesbank correctional facility in East London in the Eastern Cape, the reality on the ground is that other correctional facilities are battling to provide employees with PPEs. Amongst such facilities we can mention Johannesburg Prison commonly known as Sun City and many others across the country.

We acknowledge that the entire world was caught unprepared for Covid-19, however, most employers are complying with the lockdown regulations including providing protective gear to employees. The confined deployment of Correctional Officers in correctional facilities without the necessary protective gear can simply be categorised as sending them to a slaughter house because the threat of infection is well known. SAPU calls upon DCS to act swiftly in rectifying this. As the country is battling with Covid-19, we had hoped DCS as part of the South African state would have avoided any recipe for confrontation and unnecessary tension.

As a responsible union we would have failed our revolutionary responsibility if we do not warn DCS about this potential disaster. The officers who are working without protective gear are not only exposed to danger, they expose their families and the communities they live in. This behaviour of DCS is counterproductive as it renders the lockdown a fruitless exercise. We will consider other legal avenues to guarantee the safety and lives of our members. We cannot by any means compromise the safety and the lives of correctional officers.

Issued by: Tumelo Mogodiseng

General Secretary

SAPU CALLS FOR POLICE TESTING

ghcmaartens@gmail.com (Drickus Maartens) — Thu, 01 Jul 2021 07:30:40 GMT

SAPU CALLS FOR POLICE TESTING

The South African Policing Union calls upon the SAPS management to introduce a system where police officers are tested for the Coronavirus when they are reporting for duty. We have noted with grave concern that the issue of the Covid-19 has not yet been taken seriously by both the management and the workforce.

Police officers are in the forefront in the battle against the spread of the virus in the country. They are amongst the workforce that is exposed a great deal to the virus. The infection rate in South Africa makes it an urgent that police officers get tested. This will help in taking the necessary steps in placing those infected in the compulsory isolation process commonly known as quarantine and also protecting those not infected.

SAPU is calling upon the SAPS management not to drag its feet on this matter. We want to avoid a situation where a greater number of the police service is infected and have to be quarantined. SAPU would also like to call upon police officers themselves to take the initiative and get tested. It is better late than never.

As adults we have to act like that and be responsible. Even with those who test positive, it has been proven that it is not the end of the road, there's life after Coronavirus. Our own General Secretary Tumelo Mogodiseng has already tested and fortunately his results came back negative. As our motto says “together we will make the difference”, we will beat the virus.

We are calling on the powers not to come with a lame excuse like lack of resources or funds, this is a proactive approach to avoid the rapid infection of police officers that can put our country without an active police service. We will have an audio with the Police Minister Bheki Cele to place this progressive proposal on the table.

SAPU is also calling on infected police officers not to come on duty. They have to protect themselves through quarantining themselves. By acting responsible they will also be protecting their colleagues and their families.

Victory is certain!

Issued by: Tumelo Mogodiseng

SAPU TAKING DPSA TO COURT OVER PSCBC AGREEMENT MOVE

ghcmaartens@gmail.com (Drickus Maartens) — Thu, 01 Jul 2021 07:27:45 GMT

SAPU TAKING DPSA TO COURT OVER PSCBC AGREEMENT MOVE

The South African Policing Union is seriously considering a court interdict to compel the Department of Public Service and Administration to implement the final leg of the agreement the Government signed with public sector unions in the Public Service Co-ordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC) in 2018. We find it totally unacceptable, reckless and opportunistic for Minister Senzo Mchunu to use the Covid-19 crisis and the country's recent downgrade to junk status as convenient excuses to justify why the Government want to renege on the agreement.

It is clear the Government has not been willing to fulfil its side of the bargain because as early as just a day prior to the Budget Speech of the Finance Minister, the Government indicated its willingness not to honour the agreement. That was a long time before the Covid-19 reached the crisis stage it has reached and a long time before the country's economic status was downgraded. SAPU would like to place it on record that our legal team is busy preparing documents to challenge Government on its intended move.

As much as we are classified as an essential service, we want to take this route to protect and defend what we believe is the fundamental rights of our members. We cannot allow this Government to undermine collective bargaining like this. If a party to council is allowed to undermine collective bargaining, that would be the reversal of one of the major victories that public servants as part of the working class have secured in the democratic dispensation. This would be the end of the PSCBC itself. SAPU is calling upon other unions to take this fight to the Government.

The attitude of Government is completely uncalled for. The DPSA is provoking our members. It is more painful for police officers who are amongst the lowest paid employees in the entire civil service. Police officers are already denied another fundamental labour right as they are not promoted. Hundreds of police officers are long overdue for promotions. Their only hope of some compensation has always been the annual public service salary increment and now with this latest development it is clear that there is nothing to console them. This will also have a negative impact on service delivery as it is a demoralising fact in the low morale police service. We are calling on the Government to lead with example and act with honesty as well. Pay civil servants what is due to them.

SAPU calls upon Minister Mchunu, a former union leader himself to assist the constituency that he is coming from. This act of extreme provocation will not be tolerated. There is no way that when the state is facing some challenges, our members will be used as soft targets. The Government can sacrifice other commitments not our members' long overdue salary increments. All public servants are looking forward to the payday in April 2020 and now is the time.

Issued by: Tumelo Mogodiseng

General Secretary

SAPU CALLING FOR PUBLIC SERVICE EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION OVER COVID 19 OVERTIME

ghcmaartens@gmail.com (Drickus Maartens) — Thu, 01 Jul 2021 07:24:29 GMT

SAPU CALLING FOR PUBLIC SERVICE EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION OVER COVID 19 OVERTIME

Wednesday 25 March 2020, Pretoria- The South African Policing Union would like to call upon the SAPS management to introduce an attractive incentive to pay Public Service Act Personnel (PSAP)employees employed within the Police who are not part of employees rendering an essential service. We are making this call fully aware that the Police on their own would never be fully independent of these employees in rendering their service.

It has come to our attention that these employees as a support structure of the SAPS could not be compelled to work. They can only be allowed to work either from home or not work at all. It is a reality that we cannot run away from that these employees give the SAPS an important back up. We are referring to PSAP employees like Data Capturers, Typists etc. The lockdown as ordered by President Cyril Ramaphosa who mentioned the group of employees who would be working during the 21 days doesn’t include employees like these.

We have been calling on the SAPS management to implement a SSSBC Agreement 2 of 2011 Part D of Paragraph 5.1 that could translate the employees from the Public Service Act personnel to the Police Act. Our position is well-documented that it doesn’t make sense to have employees of the same department employed under different Acts. The management has been dragging its feet to translate the Public Service Act personnel to the Police Act because of a narrow political agenda that they did not want to pay extra costs like the Danger Allowance that police officers are entitled to.

We are a revolutionary union that will not allow the employees to be intimidated to during the Coronavirus crisis with an employer that doesn’t pay overtime. The National Disaster that the President has declared unlike a national emergency falls within the Basic Condition of Employment Act. If the BCEA still applies any changes to the conditions of employment for employees are subject to engagement.

The SAPS must identity the non-essential employees that they would like them to render service and will be willing to work and state the incentive that they will pay. PSAP employees are conversant with the work that the police do and might be of great assistance during these trying times. SAPU will not compromise on this issue. We will closely monitor the SAPS and oppose any attempt to exploit even reservists. We are patriotic sons and daughters of our country, we are willing to assist during this hour of need, however we are not prepared to be exploited by a selfish employer.

SAPU has also noted with concern that, the SAPS has failed to provide the necessary resources for members to use during this COVID 19 crisis. We want to call on the SAPS to make provision for the holding of test of temperature for members when they report for duty and when they knock off. The safety of our members when on duty must be guaranteed. As much as we acknowledge that the country and the world was caught off guard by the break of COVID -19, for the SAPS it is a worst case.

It is clear that the SAPS will never be battle ready for any crisis. We are calling upon the SAPS management to look and plan ahead for other crises that might face us. SAPU calls upon PSAP not to be shaken by any threats of disciplinary steps taken against them illegally by the employer. The employer has to pay for their service finish and klaar. We are calling on the SAPS not to play with our member’s emotions. Any attempt to blackmail PSAP will not succeed. SAPU is calling for justice for these employees who would be requested to go an extra mile for the sake of the country whilst they have long been ignored by this insensitive employer.

As SAPU we anticipate that the police, nurses and others stand a good chance of being infected and therefore call upon the state to protect all the employees particularly those that are in the frontline.

Issued by: Oscar Skommere

SAPU CONDEMNS RECKLESS POLMED

ghcmaartens@gmail.com (Drickus Maartens) — Thu, 01 Jul 2021 07:22:06 GMT

SAPU CONDEMNS RECKLESS POLMED

The South African Policing Union has noted with dismay the reckless action by the police medical aid-POLMED which has spent thousands of rands placing adverts in national Sunday newspapers about the election of a board of trustees. We would like to condemn this behaviour by POLMED which is clearly undermining President Cyril Ramaphosa who has ordered the cancellation of any public gathering of over 100 people. It is a well-known fact that process would involve certainly over 100 people.

This reckless behaviour by POLMED to undermine the President vindicates what SAPU has been stating for some time. The current board of trustees and management of POLMED has gone rogue. We had challenged the Council for Medical Schemes to place POLMED under curatorship because of the instability, incapable leadership and other shenanigans that compromise the smooth running of the police medical aid scheme.

SAPU would like to call upon Lieutenant- General Bonang Mgwenya to take drastic measures to ensure that the reckless action by POLMED are immediately reversed. There could be no election of a board of trustees under these trying circumstances that our country and the whole world are faced with. POLMED as a defined benefit falls directly under the SAPS Human Resources Department that General Mgwenya is responsible for.

It is POLMED’s sole responsibility to ensure that the medical issues of all members are taken care of including the Coronavirus. The state of POLMED is in paralysis whilst SAPS management is doing nothing. Our members continue to face frustration and humiliation at the conduct of POLMED.

SAPU is of the view that POLMED and Government Employees Medical Scheme (GEMS) should provide members with the necessary resources to fight the Coronavirus including Vitamin C supplements, Sanitisers, Masks, Gloves etc. We are calling on these Medical Aid Schemes to provide our members with the necessary immune boosters. These are desperate times that need desperate measures. SAPU is calling on POLMED and GEMS to come out like other Medical Aid Schemes and state what are their plans for members during these trying times.

We are calling upon POLMED to withdraw the newspaper adverts that they placed on national Sunday newspapers and suspend the process for the election of a new board of trustees. This process should be put on hold until the Coronavirus challenge has been dealt with fully. Secondly we would like an extremely independent body take over the process of nomination, selection and election. The process as it stands is compromised in all levels.

SAPU would also like to call all POLMED members irrespective of their union affiliation to rise up against the reckless POLMED management. This management has placed their medical aid in an untenable position that has compromised their benefits. Each and every day, police officers continue to be turned away from medical centres because of the unreliability of POLMED. We are calling on all members to work with us in fighting for a better and efficient POLMED.

We find it totally unacceptable that to POLMED it is business as usual. There can be no normal situation in POLMED under an abnormal management. SAPU is calling upon General Mgwenya to act with speed in normalising the situation at POLMED. As SAPU we are prepared to take any legal steps in fighting for justice at POLMED. We will not allow POLMED to be captured for selfish interests that do not benefit members.

We are extremely concerned that POLMED would use thousands of rands placing adverts in national Sunday newspapers that only a few of its members could afford to buy such newspapers. It seems as if even that exercise was not done genuinely to reach as many members as practically possible. The management continue to misuse hard earned funds in a fruitless exercise.

Issued by: Tumelo Mogodiseng

General Secretary

SAPU SEEKING CONSTITUTIONAL REVIEW OF SECTION 49 TO PROTECT POLICE

ghcmaartens@gmail.com (Drickus Maartens) — Thu, 01 Jul 2021 07:18:48 GMT

SAPU SEEKING CONSTITUTIONAL REVIEW OF SECTION 49 TO PROTECT POLICE

The South African Policing Union is seriously considering a Constitutional Court challenge to the constitutionality of Section 49 of the Criminal Procedure Amendment Act that deals with when police officers can use what is called minimum force to protect themselves. We are of the view that this section exposes our members to danger as they die violently whilst busy thinking about the consequences of protecting themselves against armed criminals.

We want the Constitutional Court to declare this section unconstitutional as it leaves men and women in blue exposed to armed criminals. We have noted with concern the violent killing of a police official in Gauteng and the wounding of two others in KwaZulu-Natal. Both these incidents happened over the past weekend. SAPU believes in order to curb these senseless killings, police officers should be allowed to hit back at criminals. The time of considering how dangerous the situation is for a police official to shoot back doesn’t make sense. It risks them being killed whilst still thinking about the next move.

We want to call upon officers once again to treat any crime scene as a danger zone and be fully armed for any eventuality. The alarming high rate of police killings in South Africa is not different from a war zone. We call upon police officers not to die with their weapons of trade including firearms. It is now time for police officers to show criminals they are professionally trained to use their firearms. We are treating this issue with the urgency it deserves.

SAPU would like to send heartfelt condolences to the family of the Gauteng officer and wish the two KZN officers a speedy recovery from their injuries. As a responsible union, we will fight their battle in the courtroom now. We have appealed to the government to no avail. If the Constitutional Court challenge doesn’t succeed we will still approach the same court to compel the government to come with practical measures to stop police killings. It is clear that the South African state is run by the Concourt, that is why we are appealing to it as well to come to our rescue.

Issued by: Oscar Skommere

SAPU RELIEVED AND JOYOUS ABOUT LONG-AWAITED ANNOUNCEMENT OF COVID19 VACCINES FOR SAPS AND DCS

ghcmaartens@gmail.com (Drickus Maartens) — Tue, 29 Jun 2021 09:15:02 GMT

SAPU RELIEVED AND JOYOUS ABOUT LONG-AWAITED ANNOUNCEMENT OF COVID19 VACCINES FOR SAPS AND DCS

The South African Policing Union (SAPU) would like to welcome the decision to finally start rolling out the Covid-19 vaccination for police officers and prison warders within days. According to Acting Health Minister, Mmamoloko Kubayi the details of 80% of police officers had already been transferred from the public service salary

system to the vaccination registration system which is the same method used to register teachers.

The Health Department’s Deputy Director General Nicholas Crisp was noted saying that the department has identified 145 000 officials and 36 000 civilians working in the police service and that the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) will be prioritised with SAPS and the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).

SAPU has been urging the Minister of Police, Bheki Cele to fight to prioritise the vaccination of our members and while SAPU is still not satisfied with the manner in which the Covid-19 vaccination roll-out to other essential and front-line workers such as employees of SAPS, the DCS and traffic has been handled, the union is relief

that there is finally some progress. Therefore, SAPU wants to encourage its members to get the vaccine as this third wave of Covid-19 is horrific and much worse than anyone could ever imagined one year ago. It is the duty of all frontline and essential workers to set an example to the general public to protect themselves as well as

their families.

SAPU further wants to plea with the management of SAPS, the DCS and traffic to ensure that each employee is accommodated whether an employee has a medical aid or not.

SAPU is aware of the fact that there is much contradicting information circulating about the effectiveness and safety of the vaccine; however, employees must ensure that they educate themselves with factual and correct information and not believe false and misleading information which only purpose is to cause unnecessary panic

and confusion.

Up to date an alarming high number of SAPS, DCS and traffic employees have passed away due to Covid-19, resulting in a shortage of manpower and severely affecting service delivery as many police stations and departments have to close temporarily to be disinfected every time an employee test positive for Covid-19.

SAPU would like to use this opportunity to thank the President, Mr Cyril Ramaphosa for leading the country during this pandemic and for implementing a level four lockdown in the midst of the third wave of the pandemic to assist and ease the pressure on all frontline and essential workers.

Unfortunately, the rollout of the Covid-19 vaccines has not been without challenges and embarrassment such as a shortage of vaccines, poor administration, using different vaccines, insufficient funds, and disruptions to essential health services, and therefore SAPU will closely monitor every step of the vaccination roll-out process and continue to fight for the basic human rights of our members to have access to preventative medical care and assistance.

Issued by: South African Policing Union (SAPU)

SAPU: ENCOURAGES GENERAL SITOLE TO CONTINUE STANDING FIRM AGAINST POLITICAL INTERFERENCE AND CORRUPTION AS SARPCCO CHAIRPERSON AND TO NOT BE THREATENED

ghcmaartens@gmail.com (Drickus Maartens) — Mon, 28 Jun 2021 06:37:10 GMT

SAPU: ENCOURAGES GENERAL SITOLE TO CONTINUE STANDING FIRM AGAINST POLITICAL INTERFERENCE AND CORRUPTION AS SARPCCO CHAIRPERSON AND TO NOT BE THREATENED

The South African Policing Union (SAPU) is delighted to congratulate and support the National Commissioner, General Khehla Sitole with his appointment as Chairperson of the Southern African Regional Police Chiefs Cooperation Organisation (SARPCCO).

SAPU would like to encourage General Sitole to continue the difficult task of fighting corruption not only in South Africa, but also now in other African countries. General Sitole has vowed to fight corruption and has been doing exactly that, and as a result he displayed fighting corruption from the rank of constables to generals.

It is unfortunate that other African countries also have to fight political interference from political heads who want to force their inputs on the individual police forces. SAPU is strongly condemning the sarcastic letters that the Minister of Police, Bheki Cele wrote to the National Commissioner especially regarding the restructuring agreement. It is also shocking that the Minister had the audacity to write a letter to NASCOM instructing General Sitole to take disciplinary steps against any member who does not agree with the Minister. The Minister’s interference in the operational running of the SAPS has long been a problem as the Minister is clearly acting outside of his portfolio and wants the National Commissioner to be submissive to the Minister’s ridiculous demands.

The restructuring agreement which has been signed on 30 November 2020 has not been opposed by anyone to SAPU’s knowledge and the Minister of Police is the main stumbling block in implementing the restructuring process that was supposed be concluded in April 2021. There is a concluded agreement on restructuring and SAPU wants to see the full implementation as a matter of extreme urgency. By delaying the implementation of restructuring, the Minister is leaving SAPS in a limbo vacuum as all posts of SAPS are declared vacant. The Minister of Police as a political head is supposed to see to it that certain crucial issues such as the Covid-19 vaccination of SAPS employees is prioritised, but he is failing his political role and acts as if he is the National Commissioner of the SAPS. SAPU has learned from Mdluli’s case that Crime Intelligence has been captured by politicians for their own political gain. Another example of political interference that SAPU can refer to was an incident where the premier of the Northern Cape wanted to interfere with the appointment of the SAPS Northern Cape Provincial Commissioner for his own political agenda. Section 207(2) of the Constitution dictates that the National Commissioner must exercise control over and manage the police service in accordance with the national policing policy and the directions of the cabinet member responsible for policing. The constitution (Section 207(3)) dictates that a Provincial Commissioner is appointed by the National Commissioner with the concurrence of the provincial executive. In the event where two parties are unable to agree on the appointment, the National Minister must mediate between the parties. There is a clear distinction between the political responsibility of a political head who is also a member of cabinet in Section 206 and the role of the National Police Commissioner in Section 207(2) who is responsible for the operational part of the SAPS. Regulation 27 empowers the National Commissioner to create a new post as well as filling any vacancy.

The report submitted to the Minister must reflect on the requirements for the position and any directives that the Minister may issue. The Minister’s approval for the actual filling of a SMS vacancy is not required in terms of the said regulation, however any appointment to selected posts of the SMS by the National Commissioner must be done ONLY in consultation with the Minister. SAPU is urging the National Commissioner to continue to stand firm against the interference of the Minister and to continue to send a strong message that political interference should not be tolerated.

SAPU once again wants to congratulate General Sitole on his appointment as Chairperson of SARPCCO and believe that his appointment will bring change to policing in the African sphere and will support the National Commissioner in any way possible.

Urgent call from the South African Policing Union (SAPU) on President Ramaphosa to intervene in the leadership crisis of the South African Police Service (SAPS)

ghcmaartens@gmail.com (Drickus Maartens) — Mon, 10 May 2021 14:35:13 GMT

Urgent call from the South African Policing Union (SAPU) on President Ramaphosa to intervene in the leadership crisis of the South African Police Service (SAPS)

The South African Policing Union (SAPU) has noted with grave concern of the

deteriorating relationship between the Minister of Police and the National

Commissioner of the SAPS which is now unfortunately playing out in the public

domain.

SAPU, as a responsible and independent union vows to stay impartial between the

tug of war between the current National Commissioner of Police and the Minister of

Police, and not comment on who has the power to appoint senior managers in the

SAPS in terms of legislation; however, SAPU wants to ventilate that as it is in the best

interest of all citizens of South Africa, the current impasse has to stop immediately

and therefore SAPU is calling on the President of South Africa to urgently intervene

as the Office of the President is the only entity that can call these particular roleplayers to order.

Unfortunately, the relationship between the National Commissioner of Police and

the Minister of Police was strained from the beginning, and miserably deteriorated

further over time with the Minister of Police even publically calling on the President

to remove General Sitole from office. It is assumed that the President has been

trying to deal with the rivalry between the Minister of Police and the National

Commissioner in-house for some time now, but a letter written by the Minister of

Police to the National Police Commissioner has been circulating publicly proving that

the relationship between these two offices is broken irretrievably and that is a

national crisis.

South Africa is ravaged with crime, a shortage of functional police officers and

Gender Based Violence reaching a point of extremity to a point that it was even

declared a second pandemic by President Ramaphosa. South Africa cannot succeed

to fight crime as a united front while the political and operational head of the SAPS is

at warfare with each other. It is impossible that the day-to-day management of the

SAPS can be run efficient when critical key appointments of senior officers are done

with the National Commissioner announcing appointments in top leadership

positions, and simultaneously the Minister of Police is withdrawing these

appointments. No respectable institution can be successfully managed in this

manner, and certainly not a police force. One cannot but wonder if the rivalry

between these two is to score a political goal or if it is for personal reasons?

SAPU deems it important to note that the SAPS management and Organised Labour

signed a collective agreement in the bargaining council on 30 November 2020 in

order to facilitate the restructuring of the SAPS whereby all members of the SAPS

had to be appointed in new positions in the organisation. It is thus disappointing to

note that almost six months later, only 13 managers have been appointed in new

positions from a total of over 170 000 staff members. Failure to successfully

implement the above can be solely blamed on the poor relationship between the

Minister of Police and the National Police Commissioner. It is important to further

note that there are at least two provinces who have been without a provincial

commissioner for some time now due to the focus that is on who has the power to

appoint a senior official rather than focussing on the best candidate for the job.

SAPU has a responsibility to protect all police officers and can only trust that the

President of South Africa will act swiftly and decisively in handling this situation once

and for all as it is in the best interest of all citizens. History unfortunately also proves

that it has been a mistake to appoint a former National Police Commissioner as a

Minister of Police, as the role of these two separate individuals might get intertwined and became a grey area as the former might still want to conduct operational tasks, while the blunt truth and reality is that there is no place for inhouse conflict and rivalry in this environment, as the consequences of these type of poor leadership and management will have dire effects on the efficiency of the

police force.

Issued by: Tumelo Mogodiseng

General Secretary

SAPU CALLS UPON PRESIDENT CYRIL RAMAPHOSA TO DECLARE POLICE KILLINGS A NATIONAL DISASTER

ghcmaartens@gmail.com (Drickus Maartens) — Thu, 06 May 2021 08:30:03 GMT

SAPU CALLS UPON PRESIDENT CYRIL RAMAPHOSA TO DECLARE POLICE KILLINGS A NATIONAL DISASTER

The South African Policing Union calls upon President Cyril Ramaphosa to declare police killings a national disaster.

SAPU is extremely unhappy that the issue of police killings in South Africa is not receiving the necessary attention it deserves. It seems as if police officers are treated as step-children of the state because when a police

officer is attacked it is business as usual and as if nothing has happened. SAPU is making this latest call after an off duty 38-year-old male police officer was killed in cold blood in Vrygrond in the Western Cape early on Sunday morning, 11 April 2021.

The continued killings of police officers in our country whether on or off duty reached an alarming rate a long time ago. SAPU has consistently condemned police killings, and there have been national summits and other plans to curb this scourge to no avail. SAPU is calling on the commander in chief to take police killings seriously and act with speed. After declaring police killings, a national disaster, SAPU would expect the state to initiate legislation and to declare police killings treason. It is clear that police officers have been left out on their own to dry. It is totally unacceptable that police officers are killed at this rate in our country and nothing concrete is done

to curb these senseless killings of police officers.

SAPU is also calling upon all law abiding citizens to come forward with information that will lead to the arrest and successful prosecution of police killers. The tragic and brutal killings of police officers in this country deserve the same attention as the Covid-19 pandemic and gender based violence. Police killings is also a pandemic that the whole population should be concerned about. The justice system should show no mercy to police killers.

SAPU would like to send its heartfelt condolences to the family of the slain cop. SAPU shares the family’s pain; this is not only a loss to the family but a national loss, as this

patriotic son of our land served his country until the very end. SAPU is pledging not to rest until his killers are brought to book.

SAPU WANTS MEETING WITH CORRECTIONAL SERVICES LEADERSHIP OVER 2064 DUMPED TRAINEES

ghcmaartens@gmail.com (Drickus Maartens) — Thu, 06 May 2021 08:25:13 GMT

SAPU WANTS MEETING WITH CORRECTIONAL SERVICES LEADERSHIP OVER 2064 DUMPED TRAINEES

The South African Policing Union (SAPU) is seeking an urgent audience with the

Minister of Correctional Services Mr. Ronald Lamola and the National Commissioner of Correctional Services, Mr Arthur Frazer over the controversial decision of the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) to ditch 2064 trainees.

We are extremely disappointed that the DCS would act in this irresponsible manner when there are severe human resource challenges in the department. These 2064 trainees have already been within the DCS as they have been

trained at the Zonderwater Training College in Cullinan, Gauteng.

We find it grossly irresponsible of the DCS to train such a large number of people,

make promises to them about absorption and all of a sudden dump them with the

lame excuse that their learnership programme has expired. The so-called expiry date of a contract is neither here nor there. Correctional officers have been attacked and in some instances even killed due to the shortages of officers in our correctional centres. SAPU is of the firm view that this is the time for the DCS to take advantage of the 2064 trainees to mitigate against the staff shortages that the department faces.

The absorption of these trainees will go a long way in addressing the serious challenge of the shortage of correctional officers the department is currently faced with. Already correctional officers who go on retirement, others resigning because of seeking greener pastures, others unfortunately losing their lives for

various reasons have never been replaced for some time now. SAPU is also concerned about the short-cut approach of the DCS to employ SANDF youth reserves who have not been professionally trained to rehabilitate offenders. We do not have any issue with the SANDF youth reservists as such, however, we are of the view that they have been thrown into the lion's den with no expertise or experience to deal with inmates.

We have written a letter to the Minister and the Commissioner seeking clarification on the issue. We are not alarmists nor trying to cause unnecessary panic in our country, however SAPU would like to warn the authorities not to let these trainees roam around the streets doing nothing. We want to engage the authorities with the sole intention of finding an amicable resolution of the matter.

We are also calling upon the Department of Public Service and Administration to source funding from the National Treasury in order to correct the imbalances in the entire public service. The severe human resource shortages in the DCS and other public sectors like the police compromise service delivery. As a country we

are far behind in terms of the United Nations international ratio. These severe shortages have a negative impact on the morale of the current workforce. Any overloaded staff lacks motivation.

SAPU CALLS ON THE NATIONAL COMMISSIONER TO INVESTIGATE MPUMALANGA COMMISSIONER

Tue, 04 May 2021 08:53:45 GMT

SAPU CALLS ON THE NATIONAL COMMISSIONER TO INVESTIGATE MPUMALANGA COMMISSIONER

The South African Policing Union (SAPU) would like to call upon National Commissioner, General John Khehla Sitole to launch a speedy investigation into serious allegations levelled against the Mpumalanga Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Mondli Zuma. The allegations levelled against Lt-Gen. Zuma are so serious that there is no way that they can be swept under the carpet.

Serious allegations like these are not only a major cause for concern, they are also criminal. Without passing any judgement in this issue, SAPU feels it is only fair that General Sitole investigate these allegations. These allegations will compromise service delivery as already police officers are demoralized. We are also sensing that these allegations could be a source of instability in policing in Mpumalanga.

SAPU is calling for a speedy and a transparent investigation. If the allegations are true, disciplinary and criminal processes should ensue and if they are found to be untrue, the Provincial Commissioner should be given the space to perform his duty without any hindrance. The cloud hanging over Lt-Gen. Zuma must be dealt with swiftly. We call upon General Sitole to act with speed regarding these serious allegations. We cannot afford to have a situation like this where the top cop in a province is alleged to be acting unlawfully like this. We are extremely unhappy that the Mpumalanga SAPS is alleged to be involved in behind the scenes and dark corner deals of secret promotions without following due processes. Hundreds of police officers countrywide, including in Mpumalanga, have been waiting for their long overdue promotions. Allegations of unfair and undeserved promotions will cause unnecessary tensions within our ranks.

Issued by: SAPU

SAPU SHOCKED BY TOP COP ARREST

karabo@sapu.co.za (Karabo Mashaba) — Tue, 04 May 2021 08:51:13 GMT

SAPU SHOCKED BY TOP COP ARREST

The South African Policing Union (SAPU) is shocked, disappointed and in disbelief over the arrest of a top police commander regarding her suspected involvement in the so-called police blue lights corrupt deal. It is alleged that the Deputy National Commissioner will face fraud, corruption, theft and money laundering charges.

Unfortunately, the well-known principle of equality before the law applies in all cases of suspected crime as no individual is above the law.

Without passing judgement on the case, SAPU would like to call upon the National Commissioner General Khehla Sitole to act swiftly by protecting the image of the SAPS as SAPU will closely monitor the national commissioner’s response to this embarrassing development. SAPU has previously witnessed with dismay junior officers swiftly suspended and dismissed for petty offences while senior officers suspected of serious offences were protected or suspended with full benefits for an unlimited period of time. SAPU is not asking for any favours or preferential treatment for the Deputy National Commissioner, but for consistency and fairness and that the SAPS will follow its own disciplinary procedure.

SAPU is warning the National Police Commissioner, General Sitole that if he allows the accused Deputy National Commissioner to waste taxpayers money while being suspended with full benefits, the Union will hold him personally liable for such a wasteful expenditure. Situations like the Richard Mdluli and Khomotso Phahlane fiascos should be avoided at all cost. The SAPS disciplinary code is clear that any disciplinary processes should be concluded within 90 days. SAPU respects the notion of innocent until proven guilty, however the mere arrest of a senior police commander already calls for a disciplinary action.

The serious allegations of corruption within the SAPS make one to believe that the institution is captured and it should seriously consider to appear before the Zondo Commission of Enquiry.

The majority of police officers are still working tirelessly to root out corruption and fraud in our society, and it is a shame that senior SAPS commanders who are supposed to be an example of law and order are investigated and arrested for fraud and corruption to name a few. This is definitely not contributing to a positive morale among police officers, but rather demotivating hard working and honest officers.

Therefore, SAPU is saluting each and every police officer who took part in this investigation for their contribution in the arrests that were made and not being scared off by investigating one of its own senior officials.

Issued by: SAPU

SAPU WELCOMES 2ND LIEUTENANT-GENERAL DISMISSAL FROM SAPS

ghcmaartens@gmail.com (Drickus Maartens) — Tue, 04 May 2021 08:45:44 GMT

SAPU WELCOMES 2ND LIEUTENANT-GENERAL DISMISSAL FROM SAPS

r, Rapport, Sunday, 18 October 2020: “any murder is one murder too many”. SAPU would also like to call upon General Sitole to speed up the process of the re-establishment of specialist police units like the former murder and robbery unit. SAPU is on record stating that the violent crimes and alarming rate of murder in the country is justifying the urgent re-establishment of these units.

SAPU would like to send its heartfelt condolences to the family of the slain Groblersdal

Limpopo police station commander, Colonel Lebyane Jeffrey Seroka, aged 57, who was

gunned down outside his house in Maganagobuswa village early on Saturday morning, 17

October 2020.

His brutal killing has sent shockwaves throughout the country. No stone must be left unturned in investigating the senseless murder of another committed and dedicated police officer. It is heart-breaking that life goes on as normal, and even more so when one of our own are killed in such a demeaning manner.

SAPU would rejoice in seeing the lives of police members being respected again and treated with the humanity that it deserves.

Issued by: SAPU