The demilitarisation debate is again raging. Commissioner Rhea Phiyega says the SAPS will be demilitarised. Minister Nathi Mthethwa told opposition shadow minister Dianne Kohler- Barnard in parliament that SAPS is not militarised. The one hand does not know what the other hand is (not) doing.

The debate is because of the appalling public image of the SAPS. Successive blunders and disasters, failed prosecutions and allegations of brutality and atrocity have created that image.

Some say the problem is the so-called militarisation of the police, contrary to the spirit of the constitution. We first provided for civilian control and oversight and stressed the ‘service' aspect rather than the ‘force' aspect. Hence the new name, SA Police Service.

We started with a civilian Secretary for Safety and Security, Mr (now Justice) Azhar Cachalia, but Minister Steve Tshwete downgraded the position. It never recovered its prominence or its intended role. The Secretariat in the nine provinces also suffered to a greater or lesser extent. Can anyone name the current occupants?

Then we changed the military ranks to unfamiliar names so that the people did not know whether they were dealing with a colonel or a general and this seems to be the extent of demilitarisation that took place. The previous Commissioner changed the rank structure back, which most police prefer. But being called a brigadier does not make a force militarised. Soldiers are, or should be disciplined. Many in the SAPS are not.

Don't blame the rank structure for the current poor performance and image. If we allow that lark they will change again (voila!- demilitarisation) and only the cosmetics will change.

What need:

• A competent, experienced, honest, crime fighting policeman as National Commissioner. A social worker was set up to fail.
• A capacitated secretariat at national and provincial levels to promote some civilian oversight.
• Parliament to get its act together and give determined oversight to the SAPS, holding it to account, even if it embarrasses the minster occasionally
• The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) to be adequately staffed and funded.
• The SAPS to produce a believable plan showing how and when it will implement its vision of creating a safe and secure environment for all the people of South Africa.

In the latest Annual Report the values of the SAPS are described as being to:

• "Protect everyone's rights and to be impartial, respectful, open and accountable to the community;
• Use the powers given to us in a responsible way;
• Provide responsible, effective and high quality service with honesty and integrity;
• Evaluate our service continuously and make every effort to improve on it;
• Ensure an effective, efficient and economic use of resources;
• Develop the skills of all members through equal opportunity; and
• Co-operate with all communities, all spheres of Government and other relevant role players."

Thousands of good policemen and woman are true to the vision and the values. Far too many are not. We need to get to the kernel of the problem: how will the Minister and the Commissioner give us an SAPS that will live up to our reasonable expectations?

Douglas Gibson is former Opposition Chief Whip and Ambassador to Thailand. He can be followed on Twitter @dhmgibson

This article first appeared in The Citizen.

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