Matric only requirement for position as provincial head of crime intelligence

Solidarity requested the Minister of Police and the National Police Commissioner to give reasons why the minimum academic requirement for the position as provincial crime intelligence head has been reduced to merely a matriculation certificate. The South African Police Service (SAPS) is currently advertising the positions of provincial heads of crime intelligence (at the level of Major General) in five provinces with only a matriculation certificate as academic requirement.

Dirk Groenewald, head of Solidarity's Centre for Fair Labour Practices, said the positions of provincial crime intelligence heads in the Free State, Gauteng, Limpopo, Northern Cape and North West are being advertised. The remuneration packages for these positions are R951 699 per year. ‘The positions were advertised at the end of last year as well and then an NQF level 6 academic qualification, namely a National Diploma, or an NQF level 7 academic qualification, that is a degree, had been the minimum requirement. However, the positions are now advertised again, and an NQF level 4 qualification, namely a matriculation certificate, is now the only academic requirement. National Instruction 4/2010, an official police document that regulates appointments from the level of Brigadier to that of Lieutenant General, makes it clear that persons considered for positions at these levels should at least have an NQF level 6 qualification.'

According to Groenewald it is clear that at this stage, and amid allegations of corruption and a lack of competent leadership, crime intelligence is not functioning optimally. ‘It is of the utmost importance that qualified and competent persons are appointed. Lowering of the required academic qualifications is of no aid in correcting this trend. Moreover, it is unheard of that subordinate officers should have higher qualifications than their seniors.'

Groenewald said Solidarity has urged the Minister of Police and the National Police Commissioner to withdraw the advertisements and to re-advertise the positions in compliance with National Instruction 4/2010. ‘We further requested the police to provide reasons for deviating from the National Instruction and to explain to which instruction or policy these advertisements comply in order to justify and legalise them. In 2011, in response to a parliamentary question, the Minister of Police confirmed that senior appointments were regulated by National Instruction 4/2010. Therefore, the reasons why it does not apply in this case have to be explained.'

Solidarity is in possession of the said documents and they are available on request.

Statement issued by Dirk Groenewald, Head: Centre for Fair Labour Practices, Solidarity, March 13 2014

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