News24 reports that the SA Police Service (SAPS) has increased danger pay allowances for Special Task Force (STF) members from R6,000 to R21,000, before deductions, marking a 250% increase.
This is in a bid to stem the number of police officers leaving such elite units for the private sector. Duties of STF members include escorting dangerous criminals, escorting hazardous cargo, containment of hostage situations and kidnapping, protecting VIPs, as well as combating illegal mining. Earlier this year, Police Minister Bheki Cele advised that training each STF member cost the country R1.1 million, and he expressed concern about the "exodus" of elite police operatives. On Thursday, Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, the national police spokesperson, confirmed that the danger allowance increase was part of a retention strategy. Mathe refused to divulge the number of active STF members, citing security concerns, but she confirmed that the number of officers who had left the units was concerning. Mathe pointed out that the private sector offered higher salaries to specialised officers, but the state would never be able to match such salaries. She urged members to understand that policing was a "calling and about passion, dedication and commitment". Apparently, many former STF members earn as much as R80,000 net per month in the private sector, whereas their average net police salary had been R35,000 per month. Earlier this week, the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) lamented what it called a "brain-drain", which had reached critical levels within the police.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Nkosikhona Duma at News24
- Read too, These police officers are getting a R17,000 ‘danger pay’ increase, at BusinessTech
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page