Matric still minimum requirement for position of provincial crime intelligence head; lower job level requires tertiary qualification
Solidarity has requested Riah Piyega, National Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS), to give reasons why the minimum academic requirement for the position of provincial crime intelligence head is only a matriculation certificate. In contrast with this requirement, the minimum academic qualification for the position of a section head on the level of a brigadier, a lower rank than major-general in the police, is a tertiary qualification. The SAPS is again advertising several vacant positions at its crime intelligence division and a matriculation certificate is the minimum academic requirement for a number of them.
According to Dirk Groenewald, head of Solidarity's Centre for Fair Labour Practices, the minimum requirements for the posts in question are not only inconsistent, but also in conflict with National Instruction 4/2010, an official police document that regulates appointments from the level of brigadier to that of lieutenant-general. "The document clearly stipulates that persons who are considered for appointment on these levels must at least have a qualification on NQF level 6. Moreover, the remuneration package for a major-general's post is R1 005 945,00 per year, while the package for the brigadier's post is R833 874,00 per year. It is unheard of for the remuneration package of a post with a matriculation certificate as minimum academic requirement to be larger than the remuneration package of a post with a tertiary qualification as minimum academic requirement," says Groenewald.
Groenewald says Solidarity queried the requirements for the same posts in the police's crime intelligence division in March this year as well. "The post of provincial head was advertised earlier this year as well. At that point the minimum academic qualifications had already been lowered from a qualification on NQF level 6, namely a national diploma, or NQF level 7, namely a degree, to one on NQF level 4, namely a matriculation certificate, compared with the previous year's requirements," says Groenewald.
According to Groenewald, it is clear that crime intelligence is currently, amid allegations of corruption and a lack of competent leadership, not functioning optimally. "It is of the utmost importance that qualified and competent persons are appointed. The inconsistent minimum academic qualifications are of no help in correcting the trend of corruption and poor leadership. Moreover, it is unheard of that subordinate officers should have higher qualifications than their seniors."
Groenewald says Solidarity has urged the National Police Commissioner to withdraw the advertisement and to re-advertise the positions in accordance with National Instruction 4/2010. "We further requested the SAPS to explain why the national instruction has been deviated from and to indicate what instruction or policy in terms of which the advertisements were placed justifies and legalises the deviation. In 2011, in response to a parliamentary question, the Minister of Police confirmed that senior appointments were regulated by National Instruction 4/2010. An explanation must therefore be given for why the national instruction does not apply in this case."
Solidarity has the documents in question in its possession. The documents are available on request.
Statement issued by Dirk Groenewald, Head: Centre for Fair Labour Practices, Solidarity, June 30 2014
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