SAPS must recruit capable graduates, not retired officers
10 June 2016
Young matriculants and graduates continue to suffer as the country's unemployment rate worsens with every passing month. While this is a major challenge in our country, perhaps even a crisis, the South African Police Service (SAPS) is recruiting retired police officers. This is further diminishing opportunities for young people.
When Bheki Cele was in command of SAPS, he recruited, by his own admission, “quantity” instead of “quality.” That poor judgment showed in poorer policing. SAPS now have their hands battling crime on the one side and dealing with ever increasing protests on the other. Now SAPS is in a quandary.On the other hand, leaving highly qualified graduates frustrated year after year will certainly boomerang on society. Young people who completed their degrees a long time ago are struggling to find jobs. Some are reduced to standing, with boards in their hands, at stop streets and where traffic lights are to get a day job. That is how bleak the situation is. Others, who are even more desperate, are reduced to begging.
From 2009 graduates have been walking the streets with degree certificates in their bags. Others are immobilized in an ever increasing queue waiting for a miracle and waiting for the ruling party to fulfil its promises on job creation. It is a very bad time for young people who have put in the time at university and other centres of higher learning and are now unable to aspire to a fulfilling and rewarding life.
Congress of the People (COPE) calls on the ruling party to invest in our youth. We call on SAPS to recruit from the best of South Africa’s youth. The ruling party must stop looking into the past for a solution. It must look to the future and not ignore the young people who are ready and desperate to show their potential and make their contribution to society.
Looking at how the ANC government operates, South Africa will be going nowhere fast. The ruling party knows very well how to enjoy power. It is, however, quite pathetic at handling and defusing crises. That is why the centre is not holding. That is why anarchy is so prevalent in our society. We are experiencing the outcomes of failed politics.
In the 2015/2016 financial year, SAPS had an allocation of 1150 posts to accommodate the 3152 former police who had applied to rejoin the police service. Furthermore, SAPS has been re-enlisting retired officers.
We have said it before. Let us say it again. Politicians must solve the socio-political problems. The police must focus on crime. The police are unfortunately under too great a strain because they are increasingly having to deal with problems that politicians are creating through corruption, ineptitude and failure.
Issued by Dennis Bloem, COPE Spokesperson, 10 June 2016
