The demilitarisation debate is again raging. Commissioner Rhea Phiyega says the SAPS will be demilitarised. Minister Nathi Mthethwa told opposition shadow minister Dianne Kohler- Barnard in parliament that SAPS is not militarised. The one hand does not know what the other hand is (not) doing.
The debate is because of the appalling public image of the SAPS. Successive blunders and disasters, failed prosecutions and allegations of brutality and atrocity have created that image.
Some say the problem is the so-called militarisation of the police, contrary to the spirit of the constitution. We first provided for civilian control and oversight and stressed the ‘service' aspect rather than the ‘force' aspect. Hence the new name, SA Police Service.
We started with a civilian Secretary for Safety and Security, Mr (now Justice) Azhar Cachalia, but Minister Steve Tshwete downgraded the position. It never recovered its prominence or its intended role. The Secretariat in the nine provinces also suffered to a greater or lesser extent. Can anyone name the current occupants?
Then we changed the military ranks to unfamiliar names so that the people did not know whether they were dealing with a colonel or a general and this seems to be the extent of demilitarisation that took place. The previous Commissioner changed the rank structure back, which most police prefer. But being called a brigadier does not make a force militarised. Soldiers are, or should be disciplined. Many in the SAPS are not.
Don't blame the rank structure for the current poor performance and image. If we allow that lark they will change again (voila!- demilitarisation) and only the cosmetics will change.