Pretoria - The South African Police Services (SAPS) will in the coming weeks commence with a process of re-enlisting former police officers.
SAPS, in a statement on Thursday, said they were looking to re-employ former members and appoint them into the ranks of constable, sergeant, warrant officer and lieutenant.
The areas where SAPS would particularly like to re-enlist employees are in the detective service and the visible policing environments.
National Commissioner Police Commissioner General Riah Phiyega said the decision was taken to re-enlist former officers after a thorough analysis of the loss of personnel from the SAPS during the previous financial year was undertaken.
During this re-enlistment process, SAPS will welcome applications from former members of all ranks who meet the prescribed criteria which will be advertised, said Phiyega.
However, applicants must understand they will only be appointed at a rank level between constable and lieutenant, no higher than lieutenant. This is irrespective of the rank they held when leaving the SAPS.
“This re-enlistment process will not replace or affect the normal recruitment and training process. It is a once-off extraordinary measure aimed at boosting production levels, particularly within the detective and visible policing areas," said General Phiyega.
"It goes without saying, that we are looking to re-employ the best-of-the best, former employees who have a lot to offer in terms of past experience, skills, integrity and commitment," she added.
The appointments will be guided by vacant funded posts within the SAPS.
Former members applying for re-enlistment after the advertisement have been placed, will be subjected to a thorough screening process. This will include, but not be restricted to, a psychological assessment; fingerprinting; reference-checking; medical and fitness testing and checking of previous SAPS employment records.
Only those former members who have good attendance and disciplinary records should apply.
Some of the criteria for re-enlistment which will be included in the advertisements will include the possession of at least a Senior Certificate (Grade 12) or higher qualification; a valid light vehicle (Code B) or heavier driver’s licence; the applicant should have no criminal record or criminal case pending and must not have been declared unfit to possess a firearm, among others.
Former members who left the SAPS more than ten years ago, left on retirement, were dishonourably discharged or dismissed, left pending the finalisation of disciplinary and/or criminal proceedings or left due to ill-health retirement or medical boarding, will not be considered.
Only applications on the prescribed forms, received during the periods specified in the advertisements or on the SAPS website, from candidates meeting the set criteria, will be considered.
The SAPS will place advertisements regarding this process in South African Sunday newspapers within the next two weeks.
The information will also be posted on the SAPS website www.saps.gov.za under the "Careers" heading when the advertisements are published. - SAnews.gov.za
