PRETORIA, December 22 – The SA Police Service has reached a settlement with labour union Solidarity, paving the way for the promotion of more than 1 000 police officers which has been on ice since 2013.
On Tuesday, acting national police commissioner Johannes Phahlane told reporters in Pretoria that his approach was to directly deal with matters out of courts.
“There was an issues always featuring in the media about promotions in the SA Police Service. There was an attempt to promote warrant officers to become lieutenants and captains to the rank of major. That process was interdicted because Solidarity had some discomfort,” Phahlane said.
“Following my appointment, we have agreed that there is no need that we should be in courts on many of these issues. Where it is possible and necessary, we will approach those we are in conflict with to try find a solution.”
He said the settlement with Solidarity, following two months of deliberations, means the officers benefits will be backdated to 2013 “where the members should have initially benefited”.
“They are about 802 warrant officers who will become lieutenants. There are 513 captains who will become majors. The total there is 1, 315. They will receive what you commonly refer to as backpay, (backdated) to March 1, 2013,” said Phahlane.
Solidarity has been in a lengthy legal wrangle with police as the Union claimed that members of minority groups were being discriminated against with respect to appointments to the levels of lieutenant, captain and major.
Phahlane said about 291 of the officers, due for the promotion, who have left the police.
Their benefits will now be adjusted and backdated to 2013 as well. – African News Agency (ANA)
