Voorsitter, daar is 'n gesegde in Afrikaans wat lui, "Ek meneer, jy meneer, wie sal die wa smeer?" [Chairperson, there is a saying in Afrikaans that is as follows in English: I stout and thou stout, who shall bear the ashes out?] You will hear something about this in my motion.
I hereby give notice that on the next sitting day of the Council I shall move on behalf of Cope:
That the Council -
1) debates whether the emphasis on the creation of a top-heavy structure within the Police Service, which has seen a heavy concentration on the appointment of generals, was not misplaced as anyone can see that this move has clearly devalued the role and importance of junior and middle-class police officials,
2) notes that the creation of a huge bureaucratic silo has begun to impact negatively on the police prioritising and fighting crime effectively;
3) further notes that because the generals are in their air- conditioned offices and no longer close to where the action is, they are unable to give attention to matters on the ground; and
4) therefore requests a full and proper examination of the structuring of the police with a view to determining whether it was appropriate, advantageous and correct.