28 000 cops move up

The over 28 000 police officers whose promotions are overdue will move one step up the ladder between now and March 31 next year, Minister of Police Bheki Cele said yesterday.

Cele and National Commissioner of Police Khehla Sitole said that in addition to this, the posts of another 3 000 officers, who were mostly in specialised units, would be regraded.

These announcements followed months of negotiations with trade unions.

“We have designed an implementation plan for the regradings and the promotions.

“It will include some reviews in certain categories,” said Sitole.

“Presently, there is a current action plan.

“This immediate plan is funded.”

Cele said the SA Police Service would not get more money from Treasury to fund the promotions.

This meant it would have to come from the current budget and in order to do that some programmes would be delayed or scaled down, he added. – ANA