Johannesburg - Acting police national commissioner Lieutenant-General Jo-hannes Phahlane is proposing a drastic shake-up of SAPS management structures to reduce costs, improve efficiency and effectiveness, and maximise the fight against crime.
He told the parliamentary portfolio committee on police on Wednesday that the restructuring would split recently merged divisions and establish a new national management division to deal with problems at provincial and station levels. This division would be under a deputy national commissioner and would include the police inspectorate.
Four other deputy national police commissioners would be responsible for policing, crime detection, human resources, and asset and legal management.
Presidential protection services, internal auditing and the crime registrar would continue to report to the national police chief.
Phahlane was accompanied by Police Minister Nathi Nhleko and Deputy Minister Maggie Sotyu.
Reviving specialised crime units was among the proposals. Others were to get rid of the post of national police spokesman Lieutenant-General Solomon Makgale, cut the number of divisional commissioners from 15 to 13, and increase the number of deputy national commissioners from three to five, and the number of component heads from six to seven.
Functions that reported directly to the national commissioner – including crime intelligence and the inspectorate – would be moved.
“Our view is you can locate them elsewhere and achieve much more,” Phahlane said.
“We have identified dysfunctions in the current structure and we consider this, honourable chair, a platform of consultation.
“We still have to take our structures through the process in terms of engaging labour. It is important we don’t lose or leave our social partners, especially when you deal with issues around structure.”
Phahlane has been acting in the post since General Riah Phiyega was suspended last month.
He said it was proposed that instead of a head of communications reporting to the national commissioner, the post of head of communication, liaison and marketing be created, with the incumbent reporting to a national head of management advisory services.
“I can do without a lieutenant-general being solely responsible for speaking on my behalf. Relocate that (function) to an environment where someone is going to be doing the core of policing in terms of intervening and ensuring that policing becomes a reality. I can do with a brigadier or chief director speaking on my behalf.”
This was the third operational configuration in five years.
Under Bheki Cele, there were 23 divisions and six deputy national commissioners. With Phiyega, there were 25 divisions, three deputy national commissioners and the Hawks unit.
Phahlane said he was attempting to ensure accountability and to consolidate authority at all levels.
Phahlane, who has been the divisional commissioner for forensic services and is a former divisional commissioner for personnel management, said the new structure, which would increase the number of deputy national commissioners and component heads, would not be top-heavy.
He said the new structure would streamline the work of his office, with fewer component heads being accountable to him.
“If we are to make a difference in the minds of our people, to make people feel safe – this structure is trying to do exactly that. The current structure is too expensive.”
Committee members of a various parties supported the presentation, but the IFP and Freedom Front Plus MPs asked whether the proposals were not premature, considering Phahlane was acting in the post.
ANC MPs said Phahlane had the same powers as a permanent appointee.
Phahlane said the proposed structure was “flat”, to enable police to make an impact.
Committee chairman Francois Beukman said effective policing was key: “This structure deals with this very directly – back to basics.”
The Sunday Independent
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