Durban- A number of police reservists who have vast experience in the service feel “short-changed” for not being considered for the vacant positions left by officers who have resigned over the years.
This was in response to the Daily News report last week that the police department was on a drive to re-enlist officers who had since left the service.
The reservists, who asked to remain anonymous, said they were aware that they were performing police duties voluntarily without employment expectations.
“But when there are people who decide to resign leaving vacant posts, one would expect to be considered for employment if one has the required qualifications and experience. I’ve been doing this for more than 22 years and some of my colleagues have more than 10 years’ experience in the job.
“Why not give us a chance because we have been and are still doing the same duties left behind by those who decided to resign? There are more than 1 000 reservists in the province,” said one reservist.
Provincial police did not respond when asked about the number of reservists in the province.
The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union general secretary, Nkosinathi Theledi, said the union could not comment on the matter.
“We are waiting for the department to present details of this drive at the bargaining council,” he said.
The DA spokeswoman for police, Dianne Kohler Barnard, said: “The officers who resigned are re-enlisted because they are experienced and the SAPS was left with no one to train new recruits. All those resignations are to be blamed on the rumour that upon retirement, police would not get a portion of their provident fund savings.
“As for the reservists, they should be considered to fill in those vacant posts if they have all the requirements and experience.”
In February, Business Day reported that teachers and police officers were resigning because of a rumour that they would not be entitled to a lump sum upon retirement. The publication quoted Government Pensions Administration Agency acting chief executive, Jay Morar, as saying the belief was based on the assumption that new retirement tax reforms, which have since been returned to the National Economic Development and Labour Council for consideration, would require a portion of the provident fund savings be converted into an annuity on retirement.
National police spokesman, Vishnu Naidoo, said reservist applications were only considered when new recruits were sought.
“The re-enlistment is specifically for those members who had resigned from the service. There’s a specific criterion for this drive which reservists do not meet,” said Naidoo.
Daily News