‘Male police officers struggle with debt
ALEXANDRA - Officers of the Alexandra Police Cluster were urged to improve their conduct and friendliness when dealing with the public.
Officers of the Alexandra Police Cluster were urged by cluster commander Major General Zodwa Molefe to improve their conduct and friendliness when dealing with the public.
Molefe was speaking at the National Police Day celebrations at the Altrec Sports Complex. She implored officers to improve their attitude when serving the public, as it helped gain citizens’ confidence and encourages them to report crime and feel protected by the police.
Improved conduct, she said, was important as the Alexandra station was one of the stations chosen to pilot the national Front-Line Service Delivery project to be launched soon. The programme will profile work excellence at police stations. “We should be prepared to show our commitment and exemplary professionalism, as we have been entrusted to lead the programme,” Molefe said.
She said this conduct included timely feedback on case investigations and better communication at Community Policing Forum and sector meetings. She urged officers to go back to the basics of policing.
“This involves thorough crime investigation, proper and detailed compilation of dockets… and closure of dockets after successful prosecutions of all reported crimes, in particular, rape.”
In reference to bribes which tarnished the police’s image, Molefe encouraged officers to maintain discipline by teaching new recruits to desist from corrupt practices such as the ‘cool drink fee culture’.
Discipline, she added, also involved officers respecting and caring about each other, avoiding sexual relationships between colleagues to maintain professional integrity, and ensuring they dressed in the appropriate uniform.
Also speaking on the day was Warrant Officer Monica Phihlela of the wellness unit, who expressed concern, mostly about male officers, who struggled financially, despite professional training on various financial management options. Phihlela said this resulted in them accepting bribes. “Some of them have many children out of wedlock resulting in accumulated and unmanageable debt that drives them to seek bribes to maintain their babies,” she said.
She also advised female officers to nominate trustworthy financial estate managers, should they die.
