Recruitment of minority race groups within the SAPS

Pretoria, Friday 9 January 2014: The South African Police Service has noted various media reports about alleged race-based recruiting which the SAPS has embarked upon.

We would like to place on record that it is not true that we are only looking to recruit minority groups (see TimesLive report). 

The appeal made by the KwaZulu-Natal police was for all young South Africans who meet the requirements for recruitment to join the police. At no stage was it stated that "Zulu speaking people should not apply". Interested young South Africans were encouraged to go to any local police station where they can get application forms for recruitment.

On Thursday, 8 January 2015, some of the people hoping to apply were turned away from the hall in Pietermaritzburg because the hall was too full and they were referred to any local police station to get application forms.

"This country belongs to all its citizens, regardless of race, gender or religion and is representative of the diverse cultures which we see in the communities," said National Police Commissioner, General Riah Phiyega. "We have set a target of 3800 recruits to start the two-year training process in our training academies this year. We are committed to ensuring that we select the right quality of candidate to provide a professional service.

We are striving to ensure that all race groups are represented within that training course and are encouraging all who meet the criteria to apply. While, in certain areas, emphasis has been placed on under-represented race groups - for the very reason that we want to be representative - we will definitely never compromise quality and we have not excluded any race or language group, or culture, from the process," she added.

The suggestion in the said media reports that promotions are not taking place in the South African Police Service is also incorrect. A total of 7 524 police members in various divisions countrywide were promoted to a higher rank or had their salaries adjusted to a higher level in the latter part of 2014. This was the second round of en masse promotions during 2014 as earlier 19 138 administration employees had their levels adjusted from levels two, three and four to level five and their salaries adjusted accordingly.

Statement issued by Riah Phiyega, SAPS national commissioner, January 9 2015

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