Solidarity calls for changes to SAPS rank structure to be put on hold

Solidarity today in a letter to the new Minister of Police, Nkosinathi Nhleko, requested that the changes to the police's rank structure be provisionally deferred. The trade union maintains that the Labour Court must first be given the opportunity to rule on the legality of appointments made after the previous changes to the rank structure.

According to Dirk Groenewald, head of Solidarity's Centre for Fair Labour Practice, the trade union has also requested a meeting with Minister Nhleko to discuss the growing number of cases of unfair discrimination in the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the police's affirmative action policy in general.

Solidarity declared a dispute regarding unfair discrimination with the SAPS in 2011. This followed after the police discriminated unfairly against minority groups following changes to the previous rank structure when posts on the level of lieutenant, captain and major were filled. "The discrimination involved, for example, that a white candidate with a certain number of years' service and on a specific rank would not be considered for promotion, while a black candidate with less experience and on a lower rank would get promoted," says Groenewald.

Groenewald says it is apparent that the police used the national racial demographics as a guideline in appointing and promoting candidates on these levels. Furthermore, he says it is unclear how the police will improve service delivery by constantly making changes to the rank structure. "If the police and the minister are serious about improving service delivery in the organisation, they should give attention to the internal employment and promotion policies instead of the rank structure."

Solidarity plans to continue with its lawsuit against the SAPS regarding its application of affirmative action that started in 2011. The next court session is expected to take place in October. "We have already succeeded in the past to stop the police's unfair application of affirmative action. Our lawsuit against the SAPS regarding unfair discrimination when candidates are promoted on the mentioned ranks will once again draw attention the SAPS's ineptness in enforcing employment equity," explains Groenewald.

Statement issued by Adv. Dirk Groenewald, Head: Centre for Fair Labour Practice, Solidarity, July 9 2014

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