Newly appointed Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has been requested to review the SA Police Service (SAPS) salaries for effective visibility of police on the roads.
The call comes from the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru), which also states that two streams should be introduced.
These would be divided among the Police Act members and Public Service Act appointees.
The union believes that adequate remuneration would be one step towards eradicating crime within the police force and motivating officers to commit to their jobs instead of soliciting bribes to fill their pockets.
Threat to peace and stability
Richard Mamabolo, the spokesperson for Popcru, said the union also demands a safer working environment and a comprehensive support system.
He said the continued killings of law-enforcement officers are of great concern and affect the functioning of the criminal justice system.
“This unfolding crisis has the potential to threaten the country’s peace and stability as the majority of these dedicated men and women are killed on duty while preventing, combating, or solving a crime,” Mamabolo said.
“While some are attacked while guarding inmates, traffic and police officers are ambushed when conducting patrols, with their official firearms and uniforms being stolen with the probable intention of committing further crimes.”
He said the government should not fear declaring war on criminals, who brutally attack and kill police officials.
Police-population ratio
The union also raised several remedial measures to curb the police murder rate in the country.
This includes the employment of professionals and reviewing police safety strategies and plans.
It also wants police murders to be classified as treason under the Criminal Procedure Act and to have compensation for dependents of officers killed on duty increased.
Popcru raised concern over the police-to-population ratio, which the union believes Mchunu should zoom into when he resumes his duties.
“With the current police-population ratio of 1:450, which still falls short of the UN ratio of 1:220 officers to the population, this problem is attributed to inadequate personnel, as already mentioned,” said Mamabolo.
