Durban - Experienced police officers who have been passed up for promotion are refusing to work beyond the call of duty.
Some complain bitterly about being overlooked, saying inexperienced juniors are being fast-tracked through the ranks.
A senior Unisa criminologist warned last week that the lack of a fair promotion process in the police service was raising the frustration levels in the SAPS.
Rudolph Zinn was commenting on the growing discontent within the police ranks because of the perceived unfair promotion process.
On Tuesday, more than 1 500 police promotions countrywide were suspended after trade union Solidarity petitioned the Pretoria High Court to declare SAPS affirmative action promotions invalid.
For the more than 800 officers in KwaZulu-Natal overlooked for promotions, the suspension was a welcome relief.
They now hope that fair criteria will be implemented to ensure only those deserving of promotion will be considered.
“The general feeling on the ground is that the promotion process is not transparent and fair,” Zinn said. “It is the biggest frustration in the police service. The members feel that the process does not recognise their hard work and years of experience.”
While the current promotion criteria were equity based, many black officers were also not being promoted.
“If the black officers do not belong to a specific political affiliation, they too are being sidelined. Many members I’ve spoken to claim that the promotion process is manipulated by the evaluation committee,” Zinn added.
While some of the officers had accepted they would be retired in their current ranks, others were battling to come to terms with their lack of progression in the SAPS, Zinn said.
“The police need to clearly define the promotions criteria, and they must be applied in a fair manner.”
Zinn also warned that the police should steer clear of applying a national equity plan across provinces.
“The local demographics of each province need to be considered, and individual processes should apply Adopting a national equity plan would have disastrous consequences.”
He said the main gripe with members was that promotions were not based on merit.
“Many of those who are promoted are often not skilled to handle their new ranks and positions. They are unable to deal with situations at station level, and this increases tensions with their colleagues.
“Often the lack of experience is seen in the quality of case dockets that are produced.”
A Durban policewoman with more than 30 years of service said she was angry and aggrieved when her name did not appear on the latest promotions list.
“As an Indian woman, I was sidelined,” she said. “I take home a salary of R12 000 a month. I cannot make ends meet. I am due to retire in four years and I fear it will be in the same rank.”
She said many of her juniors were now her seniors in terms of rank.
“It is embarrassing. I am glad I will be out of this pathetic job in a few years.”
Another officer said he had 29 years of service. “I am long overdue for promotion. It is not only the whites and Indians that are being victimised. It is us, the blacks, too.”
He refused to work beyond the call of duty and would do “just what I need to do”.
“I have been sidelined and am afraid to take it up because of victimisation.”
With 25 years of service under his belt, a Malvern policeman said his experience had been ignored.
“I take home less than R7 000 a month. I am battling to put food on the table,” he said. “Getting a promotion, which I deserve, will help ease my burden and make me feel like what I am doing is worth the effort.”
One policeman, who did not want to be identified, said of the now-halted promotions: “They should never have announced it in the first place. It is embarrassing and demoralising.
“I have waited 21 years to be promoted from captain to major. Why should I work beyond the call of duty? I must put my life on the line and not get recognised for it?”
By publication time, national police spokesman Brigadier Phuti Setati had not responded to e-mailed questions.
Daily News