Skills shortages are biting hard across both business and government in South Africa. To illustrate just how hard they bite, let me give you an example. As many as 8303 South African Police Service (SAPS) officers nationwide do not possess valid driving licences. The figure for KwaZulu Natal is the second highest - 1438 officers. 

When the SAPS next tell you that no one will come to your rescue because there are no vehicles available, you will know that there is probably no one to drive them! 

The fact that so many SAPS officers lack basic qualifications such as driving licences is indicative of a deeper crisis. It points directly to the low levels of elementary skills at SAPS in general. 

Officers who cannot legally drive - or cannot drive at all - are seriously compromised in their ability to perform functional duties outside the police station where crime occurs. In cases of emergency, they are simply paralysed; they cannot assist fellow officers or come to the aid of victims of crime. 

One would imagine that being able to drive a motor vehicle is bare minimum expected of law enforcement officers. The national Minister of Safety and Security clearly does not think so since no deadline has been given on his side by when all members of the SAPS have to obtain their licences. 

To address the general lack of skills, the SAPS apparently provides a number of internal training programmes for its officers, but attendance at these is not compulsory – another sign of denial of the paralysis by the authorities. 

The ANC government has traditionally placed emphasis on numbers in the SAPS rather than on quality personnel and high levels of skills. The IFP, on the contrary, believes that service delivery in the SAPS can only be achieved by engaging highly trained, experienced and motivated men and women.

Dr Lionel Mtshali MPP
Leader of the Official Opposition

Contact: Dr Lionel Mtshali, 083 256 4902