South African Police Tango: One Step Forward, Two Steps Back

On the 1st of April 2010 it was gazetted that the South African Police Service will be returning to the pre-democracy or apartheid era ranks. With the transformation of the police from a service to a para-military force, the work performed by various freedom fighters is rendered null and void.

In 1995 the police became a civilian police force when it demilitarised. While some ranks like that of Inspector and Superintendent became the ridicule of the police, it’s also said that this cause a loss of respect from Joe public.

In January, while responding to parliamentary questioning, the police ministry indicated that it cost the secretariat R50 000.00 to change its name from “Secretariat for Safety and Security” to “Secretariat of Police”. Whilst the same refused or could not indicate the costs involved in changing the name from “South African Police Service” to “South African Police Force”. Neither is there any information available on the cost of implementing the new ranks.

The decisions taken by the ruling party to implement these changes and converting the police service, like the now forgot “shoot to kill” instruction serves only to divert attention from the fact that in  February this year, it was announced that the police has reduced the violent crime reduction from 7 – 10% to 4 – 7%. 

In a country plagued with violent crimes on a daily basis, with at the very least every South African citizen knowing someone that has been affected by a violent crime, this send a clear and concise message of defeat. The amount of resources, both monetary and human, used to implement the rank and name changes within the police is a misguided and should have been used to maintain the original reduction targets. This move also sends a clear message to the public on the stance of the ruling party’s position on safety and security afforded to each and every citizen by our constitution.
 

The changed rank system is an almost identical reflection of the apartheid era police ranks. A senior police official indicated that the new ranks will be gazetted in the new financial year.
 

Not only is of concern the costs involved in changing the ranks, there should also be concern at the return to apartheid era policing structures. This is especially true when viewing the rise in cases of police brutality and deaths while in police custody. 

While this will most certainly have a decrease in crime in general it will also show a marked and unacceptable rise in crimes committed by those sworn and mandated to protect us. In all of this, the Police Management is not only failing its members, but more importantly South African’s as a whole.
 

Instead of admitting their defeat and publically announcing their recommitment to fighting crime in South Africa, they chose to attempt to divert the focus of the general public by initiating their wasteful use of resources in changing names and ranks whilst their focus should remain on their  mandated task, moving forward in providing and ensuring all South African’s a safe and protected  future.
 

Written by Jeremy Rundle, a member of the Congress of the People in KwaZulu-Natal, in his personal capacity.

DISCLAIMER: The views expressed by the author do not necessary reflect the official views and position of COPE.
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