Police to merge next month

BAME PIET
Staff Writer | Wednesday July 9, 2008 00:00

 

The task force appointed to work on the modalities of the merger, chaired by Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government, Tsaone Thebe, is said to have finalised arrangements to make sure the exercise is complete by September. Sources within the two forces claim that the task force is under pressure to finalise the merger after an order from the highest office called for the fast tracking of the exercise.

However, Thebe was not ready to share any information on the matter. She said she will only answer questions on the merger once the exercise is complete.

Public Relations officer for the Local Police, Mmolawa Phuthego, declined to speak on the merger. It is said that yesterday at a meeting in Mochudi, he told officers they will be absorbed into the central police and will be redeployed to police stations throughout the country. This will create vacancies for court messengers for Customary Courts, as it has been part of the duties of local police. At the Mochudi meeting, the officers are said to have complained that they are never consulted or informed on the proposed merger and they only learn about it through newspapers. The merger of the two police forces has been delayed. Oficers in the central police cadre are paid better salaries than those in the local police even though they have the same ranks.