Pretoria - The South African Police Service (SAPS) has promoted 7 524 members in various divisions countrywide.
This forms part of the SAPS management's commitment to promote qualifying and suitable employees through grade progression this year.
The suitable members were promoted a rank or level higher, while others remained in their current rank or level, but had their salaries adjusted.
A total of 6 181 members at the rank of constable have been promoted to the rank of sergeant and a total of 1 343 members at the rank of warrant officer have had their salaries adjusted from salary Band B1 to salary Band B2.
Among the members who received promotion, or progression are 352 serving in the Protection and Security Service Division, 131 in Operational Response Services, 85 in Crime Intelligence, 35 in the Forensic Services and 17 in the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation also known as The Hawks.
The affected members were promoted with effect from 1 December 2013, and their ranks and salaries were adjusted during the period January to March 2014.
"In any organization, promotion is important to one's personal upliftment and productivity which in turn contributes enormously to the effectiveness and efficiency of an organization as a whole," said National Police Commissioner, General Riah Phiyega, on Wednesday.
This is the second and mass promotion implemented this year.
Earlier this year, a total of 19 138 SAPS administration employees had their levels adjusted from level two, three and four to level five and their salaries adjusted accordingly.
“All of the members promoted form part of the workforce of nearly 200 000 and this is one of the ways of ensuring that the employees are placed in positions where skills and knowledge can be better utilized and improves employee morale and job satisfaction,” said SAPS.
However, General Phiyega said such processes are not without challenges.
"As an organization of such enormity, the opportunity for growth is immense but these opportunities will always be confined to the best person for the job, thus encouraging members to do everything to develop themselves.” - SAnews.gov.za
