POLOKWANE – The capability of the police in the province came under the spotlight during the recent release of the latest crime statistics.
Provincial police commissioner, Lt Genl Fannie Masemola, said the Limpopo police had requested that the number of police officers sent for training be increased.
He added the number of new recruits assigned to Limpopo was only 36 per year and over the past two years, between 38 and 52 officers had left the police.
“We are trying to re-recruit 44 of the lost officers and our request has been sent to the appropriate top management We await their decision.”
He explained that many police officers who were members of the Government Employee Pension Fund (GEPF) resigned due to the mistaken assumption that their pension fund’s rules would change in March this year.
The GEPF stated in March that rumours continued to circulate among members of the fund that they would no longer be entitled to a lump sum upon retirement.
This belief was based on the erroneous assumption that public servants would lose access to provident fund savings once proposed new laws (which do not affect the GEPF) came into effect on 1 March.
The laws have since been returned to the National Economic Development and Labour Council for consideration.
It is expected to be ultimately implemented either next year or in 2017.
