Experts: SAPS recruitment should focus on policing quality and merit, not race alone

SAPS intake controversy raises questions about representation and recruitment quality.

The controversy over the racial composition of the South African Police Service's (SAPS) latest recruitment drive has reignited debate over employment equity, transformation and representation, with two experts arguing that the discussion should move beyond race and focus on the quality of recruitment, public trust and merit-based appointments.

The debate follows criticism over the apparent absence of Coloured, Indian and White recruits in SAPS' latest intake.

Police have defended the recruitment process, saying the demographic profile of successful applicants reflects the more than one million applications received and the country's population demographics.

David Bruce, an independent researcher on policing and consultant with the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), and Narendh Ganesh, a community activist and leader of the National Independent Congress of South Africa, said the issue is more complex than simply looking at racial representation.