This was revealed at a ceremony held at Bobbiespark in Bloemfontein, congratulating over 100 police officers in the Free State on their promotions today. Speaking on behalf of the SAPS management in the province, Lineo Ntshiea congratulated the police officers and promised those in attendance that they will be dealing with the backlog of police officers who are up for promotion over the next three years. Ntshiea further announced that more than 28 000 members in non-commissioned ranks of the SAPS, which include constables, sergeants and warrant officers, will be promoted from 1 March 2019 countrywide. Ntshiea expressed concern that only 35 of the more than 100 Free State officials being celebrated today are female.

She says this shows that the police still have a long way to go in ensuring that they reach the targets set for women empowerment in the police force. Of the police officials being promoted today, about 75 were non-commissioned for many years, while almost 38 will be promoted to middle management.

Today’s ceremony comes after MEC of Police, Roads, and Transport in the province, Sam Mashinini, said the salaries and working conditions of police officials have to improve in May this year at the farewell celebration of the Free State Police Commissioner, General Lebeoana Tsumane. Mashinini stressed the importance of ensuring police officials, especially lower ranking ones, earn a salary that is satisfactory.

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