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The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (POPCRU) has won a significant victory on behalf of its members in the South African Police Service (SAPS) in the run-up to the national general elections, with all its demands being met.

This agreement comes in response to the concerns raised last week regarding SAPS management’s failure to engage with the union on critical election preparations, and the lack of a comprehensive national policing strategy. POPCRU had also raised issues regarding procedural adherence with collective bargaining processes, and the impacts of the elections on compensation, working hours, and leave for police members. 

POPCRU President Thulani Ngwenya notes that subsequent negotiations between the union and government representatives were challenging, requiring late-night discussions and significant effort from both sides. 

“Following these discussions, we are proud to confirm that the final agreement was reached late in the afternoon on Friday, giving our members the reassurance they needed to perform their work,” he states. 

“Some police have already been deployed over the weekend, and our members stand ready to ensure a fair, peaceful, and democratic election process in our communities.”

Key outcomes of the negotiations included: 

Compensation for cancelled leave: POPCRU has secured a commitment that SAPS members, whose leave was cancelled during the election period, will either be compensated or allowed to reapply for their leave after the election has concluded. 

Shift system and allowances: A shift system comprising two 12-hour shifts will be implemented for police, with a special daily allowance allocated for work performed during the three days of the election period from Monday to Wednesday. Additionally, members on standby will receive overtime pay if called to work. 

On-duty status: It has been agreed that from the moment police members enter employer-provided or police vehicles, they will be regarded as on-duty, providing clarity regarding their working hours and compensation. 

National directive: POPCRU had raised concerns about strategy and preparations for policing the elections being decentralised. In response, government has now declared the elections a special event, and a national directive has been issued to ensure that there is a unified strategy across all provinces.

POPCRU has further established teams to travel to each province and ensure that all interventions have been implemented. Additionally, in response to its complaints regarding the conduct of SAPS management, the National Police Commissioner has agreed to meet with POPCRU after the elections to perform a thorough review to identify and address any managerial failures that caused unnecessary confusion. 

“We stand by our belief that there are some managers who have deliberately tried to derail policing preparations and sabotage the national elections for their own mischievous ends. There must be consequence management, and we look forward to meeting with the Commissioner in this regard,” says Ngwenya. 

“Ultimately, this agreement represents a major success for POPCRU and our members’ rights. Without our intervention in holding the employer accountable and pushing these matters to their attention, the arrogance of government as the employer might have continued, as they had refused to heed our police members’ questions and concerns.

“We want to warn the police management that their recent actions are unacceptable and risk damaging the relationship with POPCRU. We urge them to prioritise the well-being of our members and commit to fair treatment. We will always fight for our members' rights and push for positive change within the police service.”  

“We would also like to extend our gratitude and best wishes to all police and traffic officers for their contributions during the elections as they perform the critical work of safeguarding our communities and supporting our democracy.”

Issued by Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union