Hawks in crisis
A parliamentary reply revealed that only 5% of Hawks employees have been vetted. 2187 employees submitted applications, but only 118 so far have received clearance. At this rate of 24 per month, it will take 7 years to vet all the applicants. Whilst South Africa's crime rate is worsening, we cannot allow administrative inefficiencies to further compromise our safety. On 1 July 2009, a total of 639 cases were transferred from the DSO to the DPCI, the date on which the Scorpions ceased to exist. It is reasonable to believe that very little progress has been made on any of these cases, if the staff compliment is this low. Five months since the vetting started, the Department still feels that "there is no delay in concluding the process" and no action has been taken against those responsible for the vetting processes.
