Cele not keen to grant retirement
Cops apply for early send-off
Scores of police officials who want to take early retirement were summoned to Pretoria yesterday by police minister Bheki Cele who wants to find out the reasons.
The officers, from across the country, have all applied for early retirement – something Cele is not keen to grant. But both the police and Cele remain tight-lipped on why the meeting was called, only saying it was an internal matter.
The officials vary in rank, from warrant officer to captain and lieutenant-colonel.
Police unions and experts have welcomed the meeting in view of avoiding a serious skills shortage which would impact crime-fighting.
The meeting comes after an internal letter addressed to all policing divisions – including the Hawks, provincial heads, training centres and all heads of departments – was sent out last week.
The letter, signed by national police commissioner Khehla Sitole, states that during a meeting with Cele, “concerns were raised by the minister with regard to the high number of members wanting to exit the service through early retirement”.
However, some police members were critical of the meeting, calling it a waste of taxpayers’ money and saying it would have been cheaper for Cele and a small delegation to visit each province.
“You are talking transport, meals, accommodation and flights for several members from across the country,” an official said.
The SAPS Act empowers Cele to deny applications of early retirement depending on the reason.
“The reason is simple. You have warrant officers, captains and so on who have been in their post for many years. There is no promotion or possibility of advancing. The basic feeling is ‘why should you stay if you are not going anywhere?’,” the official said.
The spokesperson for police, Brigadier Naidoo Vishnu, declined to comment while Cele’s spokesperson Reneilwe Serero said it was an internal human resources matter.
Police portfolio committee chair Francois Beukman said he supported an appropriate retention policy to ensure that scarce skills were retained.
During the 2016-2017 period, 5 168 members left the employment of the police.