Is the Police Commissioner using SAPS Regulation 45 to bloat his private office?
A reply to a DA parliamentary question shows that National Police Commissioner (NPC) Khehla Sitole is seemingly promoting individuals to bloat his office at a rapid rate.
More worryingly, this is being done in a manner that is not transparent at all and underscores the DA's position that the professionalisation of the police service will only be possible when there are transparent, competitive and merit-based appointment and promotion processes in the South African Police Service (SAPS) as a matter of course.
The DA has previously requested that Police Minister Bheki Cele urgently repeal Regulation 45(1)(n) of the SAPS Employment Regulations due to the continued abuse which has seen successive NPC promote individuals who may not be fit-for-purpose.
The Regulation provides that the National Commissioner, with the concurrence of the Minister, may promote an employee into a post without advertising the post, and without following the prescribed selection process, if the National Commissioner is satisfied that:
- the employee qualifies in all aspects for the post;