Gatvol cop reservists take stand!

THE Saps' public service volunteers are not happy.

Some of the volunteers feel exploited, especially police reservists.

The volunteers marched to SAPS headquarters in Tshwane to hand over a memorandum of their grievances on Thursday, 7 March.

According to volunteers, some don't get salaries, and others do get salaries but don't have benefits.

Volunteers said working with the police and the police stations around the country are also targets for criminals.

However, police reservists said people see them in full police uniform and carrying firearms, come end of the month, they don't get salaries.

Saps reservist, Helen Ncola said she has worked 26 years without a salary.

"I've always been hoping things will be better and that I'll get paid. For all these years I've been working for free. This is exploitation from the Saps and the government and it must end," she said.

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Helen said at the end of the year they only get less than R3 000.

 "We want to be absorbed because there's no difference between us and permanent police officers. We're the slaves of SAPS, we die with nothing."

Chief convener for the Saps' Public Service Act employees, Khutso Mphela said during March and April in 2020, they were declared essential workers and paid R400 danger allowance for working during Alert Level 5.

 "The environment we're exposed to daily is not conducive. We receive complaints and dispatch telephonically, and render effective administration support at the police stations," he said.

Mpela said it's clear that there'll be no promotional policy for the Public Service Act members in the Saps.

"We want the employer to respect the bargaining council, its principal and policies," he said.

Secretary General of the Independent Policing Union of South Africa, Mpho Kwinika, said: "Your cause is justifiable. It was supposed to be dealt with in 2011. What happened in 2011, needs to be fixed today. We support your cause and want to stay next to you."

EFF's Gauteng labour desk committee member, Katlego Chauke, said: "You came prepared to fight for your rights. As the EFF, we want to join forces with you and demonstrate that we're in support of the struggles of the working class."

Major-General Leny Govender received the memorandum on behalf of the SAPS' public service volunteers.