Scores of police officials seeking to take early retirement were summoned to Pretoria on Monday by police minister Bheki Cele, who wanted to know why.
The officers, from across the country, have all applied for early retirement – which Cele is not keen to grant.
The officials vary in rank from warrant officer to captain and lieutenant-colonel.
Police and Cele declined to comment on why the meeting was called, but police unions and experts welcomed the meeting with a possible view to avoiding a serious skills shortage that could affect crime-fighting capabilities.
The meeting comes after an internal letter addressed to all policing divisions – including the Hawks, training centres, and provincial and department heads – was sent out last week.
Signed by national police commissioner Khehla Sitole, the letter states that during a meeting, “concerns were raised by the minister with regard to the high number of members wanting to exit the service through early retirement”.
However, some police officers were critical of the meeting, saying it was a waste of taxpayers’ money and that it would have been cheaper for Cele and a small delegation to visit each province.
One member said they had been told senior management wanted to address all those applying for early retirement and listen to their concerns.
The SAPS Act empowers Cele to deny applications for early retirement, depending on the motivation for the request.
“The reason [for wanting to leave] is simple. You have warrant officers, captains and so on who have been in their post for many years,” the official said.
“There is no promotion or possibility of advancing. The feeling is why should you stay if you are not going anywhere.”
Police spokesperson Brigadier Naidoo Vishnu declined to comment and Cele’s spokesperson, Reneilwe Serero, said it was an internal human resources matter.
South African Policing Union deputy president Tumelo Mogodiseng said Cele and senior police officials had been at the meeting to listen to the officers’ concerns.
“I have been getting phone calls over the past few months from members who want to leave but the police are holding back on signing off on it.
“One of the issues is promotions,” Mogodiseng said.
“This also stems from police officials who leave, then come back when the post is readvertised – which is seen as not allowing members in the lower ranks to progress into the post.
“The minister is trying to convince them to stay.”
He said he was not sure about the number of police officials at the meeting but estimated it was more than 100.
Police portfolio committee chair Francois Beukman said he supported an appropriate retention policy to ensure that scarce skills were retained.
He said that during the 2016/2017 period, 5,168 police officers had left the force.
Of this number, 2,039 resigned and 1,412 retired, 50 reached the end of their contracts, 862 died, 309 were discharged due to ill-health, and 488 were dismissed.
“The committee believes a relook at the promotion policy can contribute to providing sustainable solutions for the long term,” Beukman said.
University of SA criminologist Rudolph Zinn said the exit of older police officers would affect crime-fighting.