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The South African Policing Union is seeking an urgent audience with national police commissioner General John Khehla Sitole over his total disregard of collective bargaining and consultation. We are seeking an urgent with General Sitole to seek answers from him over the Job Rotation Policy that he is embarking on without consulting us social partners in the policing environment.

After successfully challenging his attempt to unilaterally redeploy Gauteng Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant-General Deliwe De Lange last month, SAPS has learnt with shock and dismay that the national commissioner is calling his attempt to redeploy General De Lange Job Rotation Policy. We are partners in the police bargaining chamber the SSSBC, this so-called Job Rotation Policy was never negotiated anywhere let alone agreed upon. SAPU would like to send a stern warning to the national commissioner that we will not allow him to undermine collective bargaining.

This Job Rotation Policy is also a recipe for disaster as it creates anxiety and panic amongst senior management in the police. Provincial Commissioners have 5 year contracts. We would also want to seek answers on his so-called succession plan that is also a cause for concern. We know succession plan as from the bottom level up as a way of preparing those junior officers for possible promotions. We are totally opposed to lateral succession plan that doesn’t make any sense.

We feel the national commissioner is applying intimidation tactic to neutralize those commanders he is not in favour of. The unnecessary panic he is causing in the police management will have dire consequences in the fight against crime. If provincial commissioners are looking over their shoulders, they would not have time to deal with the rampant crime that the country is battling with. We would like to warn General Sitole not to allow himself to be used by political forces for selfish interests. The battle against crime ahead of us need sober minds.

Issued by South African Policing Union