The new police rank structure that came into effect on June 1 must promote professionalism in the South African Police Service (SAPS), the Portfolio Committee on Police said on Wednesday. Chairperson of the committee, Francois Beukman, said it is imperative that the new rank of regional commissioners is monitored. Beukman said a lot will be expected from the new regional commissioners. He said they must contribute to a more professional and service-orientated police service to ensure improvement at the under-performing police stations. Acting national police commissioner, Lieutenant-General Khomotso Phahlane, signed off and gazetted the new structure last week. This brings changes to the top management of the police, with the addition of the high-ranking commissioners’ jobs and the removal of two ranks. The position of the new regional commissioners is a senior position, ranked as lieutenant-generals. The regional commissioners are on the same level as that of a deputy national commissioner and provincial commissioner. They will all have the rank of lieutenant-general. Officers who have the ranks that now fall away will have the next rank above. A major will now be a lieutenant-colonel and lieutenants will now be captains. The officials who were lieutenant-colonels and captains will stay in those ranks. The police ranks that stay the same are major-general, brigadier, colonel, warrant officer, sergeant and constable. Police said the removal of majors and lieutenants were to simplify the rank structure.
Andre Grobler / Bloemfontein Courant
