Support Services

Many police officials work in support environments such as Logistics, National Evaluation Service, Career Management, Personnel Services, Training, Legal Services, Financial Services, Efficiency Services, Strategic Management, Information and Systems Management, and Communication and Liaison Services. They provide support services in the SAPS.

Logistics of the SAPS oversees the following functions: procurement, provisioning, inventory control, maintenance of the vehicle fleet, and radio-technical communication and facilities (fixed assets) support.

There are many career opportunities in Logistics, namely:

• Artisan
• Industrial technician
• Engineer
• Architect
• Provisioning administration officer
• Driver
• General worker
• Tradesman’s aid

The Division: National Evaluation Services of the SAPS supports the SAPS management in evaluating standards and performance. It carries out internal organizational and operational evaluations to identify shortcomings in service rendering. It also investigates complaints regarding poor service rendering. Internal Auditing carries out audits on management control systems to ensure accountability at all levels. An internal auditor plans audits, draws up audit reports, and develops audit procedures and programmes for internal auditing. An internal auditor also prepares and presents audit findings and carries out or assists in research to lay down uniform auditing practices and procedures. An internal auditor must have a tertiary qualification in the field of auditing.

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The Career Management Division of the SAPS is responsible for ensuring the optimal use and performance of human resources in the SAPS. Therefore, the division must ensure that policies and career development strategies are developed and put into action. The division is also involved in negotiations regarding the conditions of service of employees, and manages labour and industrial relations.

The Personnel Services Division of the SAPS provides support services concerning all personnel-related matters such as recruitment, placements, transfers, promotions, absenteeism, service terminations, discipline and grievances. Employee Assistance Services which is made up of Social Work Services, Spiritual Services, Psychological Services, and Sport and Recreation looks after the well-being of SAPS employees.

The Legal Services Division of the SAPS provides legal advice in respect of -

• the development, interpretation, application and implementation of policies;
• the drafting of legislation;
• the management of matters that lead to legal conflicts;
• the administration of State property/assets;
• the administration and management of contracts and agreements, and dealing with arbitrations;
• the management of national and international crime operations;
• crime prevention and operational response to policing matters;
• special projects;
• the promotion of corporate identity and good governance; and
• the general administration and management of Legal Services.

The Training Division of the SAPS provides education, training and development to all SAPS employees in accordance with relevant legislation. It provides this service by -

• developing learning programmes;
• setting education, training and development standards;
• applying quality assurance systems to education, training and development programmes;
• managing the facilitation of skills development;
• providing basic police and in-service training programmes;
• coordinating international training programmes within the Southern African Regional Police Chiefs Committee (SARPCCO), the African Union (AU), and the New Africa Partnership for Development (NEPAD); and
• ensuring that a culture of life-long learning is developed within the SAPS.

The Efficiency Services Component of the SAPS develops and maintains efficient functional structures, procedures, systems and methods. It assists with organizational development in the SAPS. The component also assists the SAPS management with certain managerial responsibilities.

The Strategic Management Component of the SAPS is responsible for the following:

• Strategic management
• The development of operational plans for divisions and provinces
• The development of priority strategies
• The coordination of programme and project management and donor assistance
• The management of strategic research in the SAPS.

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The Information and Systems Management Component provides, develops, optimizes and manages information systems and information technology in the SAPS. The component develops and integrates information technology infrastructure (facilities and equipment). It also manages applicable service-level agreements and relationships with stakeholders and service providers.

The Communication and Liaison Services Component promotes the image of the SAPS by -

• meeting the organization’s communication needs through internal and external communication and by dealing with the local and international media;
• building community relations;
• doing communication planning, research and marketing;
• making the best use of various mediums of communication such as POL TV, Police File, the SAPS Journal, the SAPS website and intranet; and
• producing training videos.

The component preserves and promotes the image, identity and heritage of the SAPS. It is responsible for the SAPS library, SAPS Music Services, the SAPS Museum, protocol, and film and TV liaison. Communication officials work in diverse fields. They work as television editors and producers, camera operators, scriptwriters, news editors, journalists, graphic designers, photographers, media relations officers, marketing officials, copywriters, website content managers and writers, website designers, media analysts, community relations officials, exhibition team members, professional musicians (SAPS bands), museum scientists, archivists, artists, restorers and administrative clerks.

The Financial and Administration Services Division provides a support function. This includes the management of the national budget, personnel matters, salaries and expenditures.

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