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Criminals paying big bucks to get into police training programme
Names of candidates who passed police recruitment screening process allegedly swopped with those of non-qualifying applicants for a price.
Instructors and students pray before classes start at Chrysalis Academy in Tokai, near Cape Town, on 1 February 2022. – Chrysalis Academy was set up in 2000 by local government, in the shadow of the high-security Pollsmoor Prison, a jarring contrast to the leafy surrounding suburb of Tokai. They focus on fitness and discipline, as well as mental wellbeing and vocational skills. The intensive courses cover leadership and self-discipline, as well as mindfulness and emotional intelligence. Students spend two weeks offsite in nature, where they go camping, hiking and swimming in Tokai and on neighbouring Table Mountain. The course ends with four weeks of vocational training, where students study areas such as cooking, firefighting, or police training. Chrysalis then works with the provincial government to find each student a 12-month career placement. (Photo by Alessandro Iovino / AFP)
The South African Police Service’s recruitment has been marred by allegations of corruption, with claims that non-qualifying applicants, including those with criminal records, simply have to pay R10 000 or more to be enlisted.
Whistleblowers who spoke to The Citizen on condition of anonymity have detailed how names of candidates who passed screening were swopped with those of non-qualifying applicants.
This could mean the Saps might have been infiltrated by thousands of unfit individuals that did not go through proper screening, with dire implications to public safety and crime fighting efforts.
In December, the Saps conducted a passing out parade to welcome 10 000 new recruits, but the alleged corruption in the selection process meant amongst these new police officers are unfit recruits.
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No screening
An applicant from the Western Cape this week described how she was surprised when she was not enlisted to go for training despite passing all the recruitment requirements.
“Then we were told the required number has been reached at police colleges, despite scores of people who passed were left behind. So, who are these people and how did they get in? Then information started coming out that people were paying to be pushed through,” she said.
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A whistleblower from the Free Sate said people with criminal records and even those with Bheki Cele’s dreaded tattoos have joined the police because of the corruption during the 2019/20 recruitment drive which he blew the lid on.
He said instead of being protected for exposing the corruption, he and his family have been treated with contempt, and have been in a battle to get placed in a whistleblower safehouse.
“We, that have passed the screening, have been left out while people with criminal records and tattoos have gone through to become members of the police. I uncovered the corruption but even today, I have not been assisted with anything. They are supposed to be helping financially but all I have been getting is disrespectful attitude,” he said.
Criminals in uniform
Action Society’s director of Community Safety Ian Cameroon said corruption in the recruitment of police has been going on for over 10 years now, saying at the time one in 10 police officer had a criminal record and that the situation could be far worse now.
“If we consider Bheki Cele’s time as national commissioner, according to their own internal audit, pushed through thousands of recruits without them fulfilling requirements, even after failing tests but still gave them uniform,” he said.
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Cameron said other than crime; the other implication of corruption in the recruitment was an increase in social and domestic problems because these candidates were pushed through without assessing their psychological fitness for the job.
He said it was impossible to clean up in the ground without starting at the top and proposed that a proper skills audit be done on national management of the Saps, including polygraph testing.
Forensic investigation
Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said national police commissioner, Lieutenant General Fannie Masemola, instituted a forensic investigation as soon as the allegations surfaced.
“This investigation is still ongoing, three people have been arrested. They are all civilians and not members of the Saps. They were found promising applicants job opportunities within the Saps,” she said.
Mathe said there were measures in place to ensure that the recruitment process was free from corruption and undue influence, explaining that there were four steps to ensure in recruitment and selection process.
She said there are different role players from different departments, including psychometrists from employee health and wellness unit.
“Saps is committed to a transparent recruitment and selection process, however, should it happen that those allegations are true, we encourage anyone with information to come forward and report any wrong doing,” Mathe.
She, however, said no recruitment officer has been found to be in wrong.
Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) is investigating the allegations, with investigators currently taking statements from witnesses.
“IPID is currently conducting an investigation on the allegations of corruption during the recruitment process for the new recruits. The matter is still under investigation and we can only pronounce on the outcome once the investigation is concluded,” spokesperson Lizzy Suping said.
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