The importance of prioritising South African Police Service (SAPS) members’ mental health motivated SAPS employee and Master of Public Administration graduate Ms Phindile Maduna to investigate the efficacy of implementing Employee Wellness in SAPS within the eThekwini District.
‘Police work requires a police force that is physically and psychologically resilient to optimally carry out its mandate of providing safety and security to South African citizens. The SAPS Employee Health and Wellness (EHW) component is crucial for police officers’ optimal functioning in an often-violent working environment. Failure or poor functioning of this component may negatively impact the organisation, its members, and even their families, resulting in poor performance of duties, high healthcare costs, absenteeism, disciplinary cases, and litigation,’ said Maduna.
Supervised by Dr Elvin Shava, the study revealed that there is no comprehensive psycho-social trauma intervention for the well-being of police; and that SAPS lacks proactive measures and resources to adopt such interventions and monitor and evaluate them.
‘The study suggests institutional change, policy reform, and the provision of sufficient funding for the South African Police Department’s EHW Services Programmes to enhance police members’ psycho-social well-being,’ said Maduna.
As a Director’s assistant within SAPS administration, Maduna aspires to use this qualification to advance her career and to better serve the organisation.
‘When I started this qualification, I was a junior manager in the administration department. Since SAPS is working towards professionalising the organisation, I realised I had to improve academically to advance in the department so that they can count on my knowledge.’
Words: Thandiwe Jumo
Photographs: Supplied and Sethu Dlamini