Why South African police officers are shunning detective roles: A look at workload and pay

A spate of murders, including the killing of witnesses in important cases in Imbali and Greater Edendale, Pietermaritzburg, has put the competency of the Plessislaer police station under scrutiny. Photo: Nompendulo Ngubane/GroundUpPlessislaer Police Station in Pieteramaritzburg has been identified as among those in the country who have overworked detectives while being underpaid. Plessislaer Police Station in Pieteramaritzburg has been identified as among those in the country who have overworked detectives while being underpaid.

Being underpaid, under-resourced and overworked are the main reasons police officers resist becoming crime detectives despite the department adding a R1,000 monthly incentive on top of their salaries to boost the low morale in the unit. This is the view of a Durban-based detective sharing her personal experience of seeing case dockets piling up on her desk every day. Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (POPCRU) said the situation in KwaZulu-Natal reflects a broader national crisis within the detective environment.

DA MP Mzamo Billy, a member of the Select Committee on Security and Justice sounded the alarm on Sunday about the situation facing detectives. Police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda requested at least three days to respond to questions sent to him and his national counterpart Brigadier Athlenda Mathe. Billy recently paid an oversight visit to Durban’sInanda, Phoenix Durban Central police stations and Pietermaritzburg’sPlessislaer Police Station.