: The Ministry of Police has been very firm in its stance that the department needs to look closely and constantly at its human resource development programme. This must be from recruitment to retirement, to ensure that the correct policies and procedures are in place to deal with all these processes. Our promotion system is very much a part of this human resource development process. We need to make sure that we promote people through a clear career- pathing process. Promotion should be about effective career-pathing, rewarding diligence and hard work. We are aware, and informed the Portfolio Committee on Police late last year, that we are not happy with the manner in which promotions were being effected in the Department of Police.
A number of specific cases of promotion have been referred to the Public Service Commission for further scrutiny and we await their findings on these cases. In addition to the cases referred to the PSC, the national commissioner is looking both at the appointments that have been made during the last period and at an effective recruitment, training and promotion procedure, which will then be implemented. We are also looking into the more effective use of the performance monitoring processes within the SAPS, and this must inform future promotions.
Ngiyabonga, Somlomo. Mhlonishwa, umbuzo wami ukuthi laba bantu abakhuphula abanye ezikhundleni ngokungemthetho ngoba beyizihlobo zabo, uma betholakala benecala kuzokwenziwa njani? Owesibili umbuzo uthi, laba asebekhushulelwe ezikhundleni bazoxoshwa yini bona? (Translation of isiZulu paragraph follows.)
[Mr V B NDLOVU: Thank you, hon Speaker. Hon Deputy Minister, my question is: What will happen to these people, who are illegally promoting people to higher positions just because they are their relatives, if found guilty? The second question is: Will those people who were promoted to higher positions be fired?]
Njengokuba senditshilo, Sekela-Somlomo, ukuthi .. [As I have said, Deputy Speaker ...]
... we have given some of these cases over to the Public Service Commission, and we expect it to come up with the recommendations on how we should deal with those cases. We will then abide by the recommendations of the Public Service Commission.
The proof of nepotism and massive irregularity in the promotion of those connected to political heavyweights is comprehensive. Indeed, the Public Protector is conducting a full investigation into the matter for the DA. In the face of indifference on the part of the current Minister of Police, is there any intention to stop this practice or to reverse the damage that it has caused?
Thank you, Deputy Speaker. We are saying that it is corruption when any member of the SA Police Service manipulates the promotion process. We therefore have policies in place that deal with corruption in the system. If members are found to have manipulated those processes, they will be dealt with accordingly.
Deputy Minister, Mme Makhotso Sotyu, Lieutenant General Richard Mdluli also appointed a lot of people and family members as operatives. Has action been taken about those who were appointed by Lieutenant General Mdluli? Are you going to be able to make the Public Service Commission's finding public, so that we know what the outcome is? And do you think that the regulation of the SAPS that empowers the Commissioner of Police to make appointments willy-nilly is still relevant today against what is determined by the Department for the Public Service and Administration, DPSA?
Let me start with the issue of the regulations. The issue of regulation is relevant, but if a person is corrupt, then that person is corrupt. It doesn't matter how much you threaten them with laws. If someone is corrupt, he is corrupt. That one is still relevant. Regarding the specific cases that you mentioned, that is the package for the Public Service Commission. We won't hide anything. Of course we will let the nation know about any outcome emanating from the