AN Eastern Cape police officer with just Grade 10 and a plumbing certificate was promoted to the rank of colonel last year in what other officers have slammed as a classic “jobs for pals” scandal.
Among the stipulated criteria for the position were that the successful applicant needed an “appropriate three-year tertiary qualification” and three years’ managerial experience – neither of which then captain Zolile Hakula of the Protection and Security Services (PSS) static division in Bhisho had.
Despite this, he was promoted to colonel in October last year after senior police officers allegedly intervened to ensure he was placed in the position.
Although the police have declined to comment on the issue despite being given a week in which to do so, the allegations are supported by documentation which clearly shows the under-qualified officer was promoted over other candidates more suitably qualified for the post.
An investigation by The Herald revealed that despite senior police officers acknowledging that Hakula was unqualified and not the top candidate for the job, he was still promoted and made commander of the unit.
Reliable police sources, who asked to remain nameless, alleged that Hakula was friendly with Layton Tshabalala, a top-ranking commissioner from the police head office in Pretoria, who wrote a letter to his counterpart recommending Hakula for the promotion. On Hakula’s CV, a Tshabalala – also from the PSS unit – and another assistant commissioner are given as references.
The Herald is in possession of documents that show Hakula has a Std 8 (Grade 10) certificate which he acquired in 1985 and a certificate in plumbing he obtained in 1992.
Another discrepancy is that Hakula was admitted into the police in April 1995 at the rank of inspector (now warrant officer) and not as a constable, as is normally the case.
The documents also show Hakula has two previous criminal convictions. They show that in 1998 he was charged with two offences, one for a road traffic violation and another for fraud.
In 2000 he was sentenced and given the option of a R2000 fine or 12 months’ imprisonment.
According to a senior source in the police, a selection panel of high-ranking officers was established to perform score-based assessments of five short-listed candidates. The chairman of the panel was a Commissioner Kulu, who is also allegedly a friend of Tshabalala.
“This is what they (top officials) do to get their friends promoted,” the source said. “Very senior officials make sure their friends are on the panels so they can have some inside information and some leverage on which way the promotion goes and who gets the job.”
The Herald approached the police for comment a week ago, but had not received a reply at the time of going to print.
