If the crime situation was not as bad as it presently is, this would be hilarious! Perhaps the party of the first part, Charles Nqakula, should sit down for dinner and/or drinks (on second thoughts perhaps they should forgo the drinks part, so that they can remember who said what) with the party of the second part, Martha Stander, to discuss the way forward. Sounds to me like the various egos have gotten in the way again!
Graeme Hosken
November 22 2006 at 04:36AM
Dozens of former police officers responding to a call last month by Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula to rejoin the police, have been turned away. After an urgent meeting in October between six government departments, Business Against Crime and Business Leadership SA, Nqakula said retired police officers and former members of the judiciary would be recalled to help fight crime. That meeting came after high-level discussions between President Thabo Mbeki and business leaders in August. During the talks they expressed "grave concern" over attacks on businesses and "poor strategies" used in fighting crime.
Nqakula agreed with Business Leadership South Africa's Michael Spicer that the recall of former police officers from the private sector was a way to boost the capacity of the South African Police Service. "It is vital that we attract these people back if we want to stop crime," he said. Bringing back former police officers and other crime-fighters would "inject" a wealth of experience into the safety and security department, Nqakula said then.
But a letter, signed by South African Police Service personnel services divisional Commissioner Martha Stander and dated November 3, stresses that a 2002 policy blocking the re-enlistment of police officers has not changed. The letter has been circulated to all divisional and provincial commissioners, department and section heads at South African Police Service head office, commanders at South African Police Service colleges and training centres and all deputy national commissioners. In it Stander says the number of inquiries from former police officers wanting to re-enlist "is so vast" that the police has had to clarify its position.
Over the past two days the Pretoria News has received copies of 46 letters from the South African Police Service to former police officers refusing their request to re-enlist. "Following the announcement that former police officers will be re-enlisted to assist with combating crime, a number of inquiries and applications have been received by head office for consideration," says Stander in the circular. "The number of inquiries and applications is so vast that it has become necessary to clarify the South African Police Service' position. " The position of the South African Police Service with regard to the re-enlistment of ex-police officers has not changed since April 8 2002, she explains: "The re-enlistment of all former members in the South African Police Service was discontinued with immediate effect through that circular, and the contents of that circular remain in effect." Former inspector Flippie du Toit said the door was being shut in his face. "It is very confusing when the Minister of Safety and Security says come back but the South African Police Service tell us not to bother them. "
Former anti-hijacking unit detective Duppie du Plessis, who has 17 years' experience as a detective, said the messages being sent out were confusing. "It is clear that the left hand does not know what the right hand is doing." Asked for comment, Safety and Security spokesperson Hangwani Mulaudzi said the matter was still pending. "It is part of an anti-crime programme with big business and is still going ahead."As far as I know the minister has not cancelled the call-up," he said.
This article was originally published on page 1 of Pretoria News on November 22, 2006
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