Cops get bribe-buster rises
2003-03-04 13:36
Nelspruit - Mpumalanga traffic cops have been awarded salary increases totalling about R4m a month in a bid to cut down on bribery and to try and improve working conditions.
The increases of between 9% and 30% were backdated to July last year, said Simphiwe Kunene of the provincial traffic department.
"Our aim is to improve working conditions and make sure that our traffic officers receive payment on a par with their metro [big city] counterparts," he said.
Although Kunene was unable to give an exact figure for the number of cops who had been arrested for taking bribes, he said part of the reason for the increases was to try to stop cops from being tempted to fall foul of the law.
Most of the bribery cases had happened at testing stations.
Entry-level cop who earn only about R32 000 a year will get the greatest share of the inceases.
The provincial branch of the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) is satisfied with the increases, says union secretary Kaizer Moela.
"We welcome the move and believe it will help to close the wage gap between senior and junior traffic cops," said Moela.
"If the department can stay committed to these kinds of efforts, our members will be more productive and perform to standard," said Moela. - African Eye News Service