Police Robbing Ipelegeng Workers

Monkagedi Gaothobogwe | Monday March 10, 2014 17:00

 

Figures from the ministry's budget indicate that the constables are gobbling upwards of 38 percent of the P580,590,000 allocated to Ipelegeng. 

Those who become special constables are either Form Five leavers or those with certificate, diploma and sometimes degree qualifications. The programme has been running for 10 years and many who become special constables almost work for life, until they quit to pursue other interests. 

While the constables are assured of getting their pay every month, an average Ipelegeng labourer is only assured of one month pay (P480) on a rotational basis after which he or she must give way to another unemployed person to earn a month's pay. 

Though the Special Constables basic salary is in the region of P2,185 a month, on average they get P2,500 monthly, thanks to overtime claims that are common in their work.  

Assuming that Special Constables gets P2,500 a month, then up to P255 million or 44% of the Ipelegeng budget goes to the police. This does not factor in the volunteer police, who have also been roped into the Ipelegeng programme.

At the minimum, Special Constables pay would constitute  P222,870,000 or 38% of the Ipelegeng budget. This is enough to pay for  over half a million Ipelegeng labourers - 531,250 people to be precise.

Siele said Ipelegeng pays crime prevention volunteers, wildlife volunteers and 100 monuments project at the Ministry of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism, although the numbers were not immediately availed to Parliament. 

Besides the P255 million from the Ipelegeng budget, the police get over P100 million annually from traffic fines. The police use the funds from the fines directly with government's agreement. The police also get over P7 million annually from the alcohol levy fund, apparently for road safety awareness campaigns.