Acting head shakes up SAPS
police committee on Wednesday Phahlane, appearing alongside Police Minister Nathi Nhleko and deputy minister Maggie Sotyu, indicated that some of the changes will include the return of specialised crime units, getting rid of the existing post of national police spokesman Lieutenant-General Solomon Makgale, decreasing divisional commissioners from 15 to 13, increasing the number of deputy national commissioners from three to five, increasing the number of component heads from six to seven, and the functions that report directly to the national commissioner are to be moved.
“We have identified some dysfunctions in the current structure and we consider this, honourable chair, as a platform of consultation. We still have to take our structures through the process in terms of engaging labour at a platform of the SSSBC (Safety and Security Sectoral Bargaining Council) whereafter we will be moving closer to the implementation,” Phahlane said.
Backed by a delegation of senior support staff but excluding his top management, Phahlane, who has been acting in the position since General Riah Phiyega was suspended just over a month ago, said that at present the head of communications reports directly to the national commissioner. Instead, a post of head of communication, liaison and marketing has been suggested, reporting to a national head of management advisory services.
“In the current structure, we have got a lieutenant-general responsible for communications. I’m saying I can do without a lieutenant-general solely responsible to speak on my behalf. And relocate that 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 in the country.”
The acting commissioner said this was the third operational configuration in five years and the current proposal was an improvement on the one signed by then national commissioner Bheki Cele in 2010 and last year by Phiyega.
During Cele’s reign, the police’s organisational structure had 23 divisions, with six deputy national commissioners reporting directly to him. Following the changes made by Phiyega, there were 25 divisions, three deputy national commissioners and the Hawks unit. He said he was trying to ensure accountability and to consolidate authority at all levels.
Phahlane, who was until now the divisional commissioner for forensic services in the SAPS and served for three years as the divisional commissioner: personnel manage- ment, told Parliament the new structure would not be top heavy.
Committee members from various political parties were in support of the presentation, with the IFP and Freedom Front Plus representatives asking if the proposals were not premature, considering that Phiyega has not been fired but suspended pending an inquiry into her fitness for office.
However, ANC MPs rallied around the police top brass pointing out that Phahlane had the same powers as a permanently appointed incumbent.
Phahlane said this was a “flat” structure, which would enable police to make an impact. However, there were no deadlines for implementing the restructuring.
Police committee chairman Francois Beukman said effective policing was key: “The structure deals with this very directly – back to basics. Of course we will monitor it.”