Polisiebeamptes se belewenis van dissiplinêre prosedures

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT:The application of discipline is crucial for the South African Police Service. The newpolitical dispensation in South Africa resulted in the amalgamation of different policedepartments and the use of the Discipline Regulations of 1995 as the new standard ofdiscipline. The magnitude of the police service makes the application of disciplinedifficult and results in lengthy disciplinary procedures that cause high levels of frustrationand stress amongst police officials.The high suicide rate amongst police officials raises questions regarding the factors thatcause undue pressure. This led to the interest for this study and the following researchquestions: Firstly, how do police officials perceive the fairness of the disciplinaryprocedures of the SAPS. Secondly, what guidelines can be developed to enhance thepolice official's perception regarding the fairness of the disciplinary procedure. Thetheoretical perspective focused on discipline in organisations and procedural justice todescribe fairness perceptions.The present study was divided into two phases. Firstly, to identify and describe thepolice official's experience of the disciplinary procedures of the SAPS and secondly, todevelop guidelines that would enhance the fairness experience of the disciplinaryprocedures by police officials. The study was qualitative, exploratory, descriptive andcontextual in design, The data was obtained by means of phenomenological interviewswith respondents of two different populations, namely police officials that were exposedto a departmental tribunal, and experts of the disciplinary procedures of the SAPS.Once saturation level of the data was obtained, interviews were transcribed verbatim.Data was analyzed by utilizing the steps described by Tesch (Cresswell, 1994). Theservices of an independent decoder were also called in during the data analysis. Variousthemes were identified, as having an influence on the police official's experience of thedisciplinary procedures of the SAPS. These are as follows: Police officials experiencediscrimination amongst members; that the process is emotionally exhausting; that the process becomes needlessly complex due to many petty or unnecessary charges; thatthere is a lack of consistent actions between the different role players in the process.The expert respondent group identified the following themes: There is a lack ofconsistent actions in the application of the process; cases are unique in nature and areassessed on merit; cases are often delayed; police officials experience the process astraumatic; station commissioners do not investigate cases properly; there is either a lackof emotional support or it is been wrongly applied.Throughout the process, steps were maintained to ensure trustworthiness. A literaturecontrol was also conducted to verify themes. Themes of the expert group were also usedto verify themes of the police officials' group.Guidelines intended for use by supervisors and commanders were drawn up. These werebased on the data obtained. The guidelines are supported by the existing DisciplineRegulations (RSA, 1996), as well as the Discipline Guidelines (SAPS, 1996). It shouldtherefore be of great value and use to supervisors and commanders.Recommendations for the application of the results in discipline practices, disciplineeducation and further research concerning the discipline paradigm are discussed.In conclusion, findings indicated that police officials experience the disciplinaryprocedures of the SAPS as stressful and frustrating, and often as traumatic andemotionally exhausting. Supervisors and commanders should therefore endeavor towardsthe effective application of discipline in order to allow for a more fair perception of theprocess by their subordinates. It could also be advantageous towards the change ofundesirable behaviour and to enhance moral and organisational climate at the station orunit.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University