WATCH | Detectives and special forces coming back: Bheki Cele on push to get finest to return to police service

07 May 2024 - 11:35
subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now

It costs R1.1m to fully train one special task force member of the police service, which has lost 58 of the highly trained members to the private sector over the past few years.

However, minister of police Bheki Cele says they are reversing the “bleeding” of good police officers.

“By improving their conditions and remuneration in a very significant way, I think the bleeding has been stopped. The officers who left are coming back due to the improved conditions provided, the better remuneration and the love for the badge,” Cele said during a briefing on Operation Shanela yesterday.

“The group is happy management has taken their complaints on board,” he said.

“We have also invited back experienced detectives who left the service honourably. It's one area where we have been pulled down. Several are coming back.”

Cele said police arrested more than 500,000 people in 2023 as part of the nationwide Operation Shanela programme.

He said between May 2023 and May 2024, 616,423 suspects were detained across the country. He said 21% of those arrested were “wanted” suspects. 

TimesLIVE


subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now

Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.

Speech Bubbles

Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.