The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (POPCRU) finds it extremely worrying the manner in which South African Policing Union (SAPU) has consistently stooped so low in their failed attempts to mislead workers.

If one tells the truth, one does not have to remember anything. However, the man who lies to himself and listens to his own lie comes to a point that he cannot distinguish the truth within him, or around him, and so loses all respect for himself and for others. And having no respect he ceases to love.

The same can be said of SAPU, as demonstrated by their recurring figments of their own imagination.

In his malevolent notice to its body-structure yesterday, Tuesday the 22nd of October 2019, the SAPU General Secretary Tumi Mogodiseng penned frolicsome claims, suggesting that POPCRU objected to the employer’s responds towards their stated demands of requesting a special council meeting on non-payments of pay progression.

In the first place, SAPU is not a signatory to pay progression, in terms of clause 4.2 of the PSCBC Resolution 1 of 2018.

Primary to our concern has been the fact that SAPU has consistently attempted to hijack platforms that POPCRU has created over the years, all in failed efforts to project themselves as the real defenders of workers.

As a matter of fact, POPCRU is not in the business of countering progressive ideals that would see its members’ working conditions improve. We stand for all that is in the best interests of workers in general.

The means this peddling SAPU has utilised in the hope that they gain sympathy has in turn destructed the lives of those whom they claim to represent, and this has in the recent past been observed by their ill-advice over the 10111 matter, where they misled workers by taking them on strike, something which led to them being penalised through the no leave, no pay principle. It was at that time of need where SAPU abandoned them as a failed project.

They have never been known for signing any agreements by the way.

To clarify those misled, we want to point out that on the 15th of October 2019, POPCRU called for a special SSSBC meeting under which numerous issues were raised, namely  Agreement 2 of 2011 (incorporation), Agreement 3 of 2011 (grade and promotion policy), Agreement 4 of 2017 (Annexure B and C on the grading of the Public Service Act), Agreement 1 of 2019 (translation of 10111), the translation of hospital and security guards, the translation of crime intelligence analysts and the translation of Phuthaditshaba Mounted Unit.

We had called the employer to account on the above matters, and their response was that such matters were matters for normal Council.

It took POPCRU serious persuasion for the employer to understand that they have a duty to respond to the matters brought forth before the special sitting, hence they resorted to telling POPCRU they do not have a mandate to respond.

POPCRU contributed and participated fully in questioning the SAPS as to when they were going to give members their pay progression, and even went further to remind them that the back pay must be paid, and also called upon SAPS to respect PSCBC Resolution 1 of 2018.

Even at that time, POPCRU was mindful of the fact that pay progression was still outstanding, and even SSSBC records can attest to the fact that it was POPCRU who tabled this matter at the SSSBC in May 2019, just before the collapse of negotiations in that council.

If SAPU is worthy of itself, it should have known better.

POPCRU’s participation at the SSSBC is not at the behest of SAPU, it has never at a single point appointed SAPU as its spokesperson, and therefore SAPU has got no credence in thinking they can speak on POPCRU’s behalf.

POPCRU is an independent majority formation within the SAPS.

SAPU must refrain from telling lies, and claiming easy victories.

Issued by POPCRU on 23/10/2019 For more information contact