Why police in South Africa can’t have tattoos
Police minister Bheki Cele recently came under fire for comments made about people with tattoos, and how they were not fit for the South African Police Service (SAPS).
The minister’s utterances have long caused waves – like making poorly-worded statements about gang rape – but for some, aligning tattoos with gangsterism is a step too far.
Addressing communities after a spate of mass shootings in July, Cele said that the police department was engaged in a mass recruitment drive to meet the country’s needs.
However, he said that any potential recruits who have tattoos need not apply.
“When you have a tattoo, we don’t hire you because you have a tendency of being a gangster,” he said.
The statement sparked outrage among the inked members of society who took exception to being called gangsters. There were even reports of hopeful police recruits whose dreams were dashed by the realisation.
Responding in a written parliamentary Q&A this past week, Cele moved to clarify the SAPS’ stance on tattoos – noting that rejecting tattooed recruits was above board and part of standing policy.
The minister pointed to Regulation 39 of the South African Police Service Employment Regulations, 2018, read with Regulation 11 of the Regulations for the South African Police, 1964.
This, he said, provides that a person who applies to be appointed as a member “must not have any tattoo marks of which will be visible and irreconcilable with the objectives of the service.”
These regulations have not been repealed, Cele said, nor are they inconsistent with the SAPS employment regulations.
“The first requirement is that a tattoo must not be visible when a member wears or is dressed in uniform. The second requirement is that even if the tattoo is not visible when wearing a uniform, such a tattoo must not be irreconcilable with the objectives of the service.
“For instance, if the person takes off his or her shirt and has a tattoo, it must not be irreconcilable with the objectives of the police service.”
Cele said that visible tattoos may negatively affect the perception of neutrality of members as viewed by the community.
“It may also be necessary to consider that ruled of this nature do not only relate to the fact that an individual may choose to have a tattoo but also to the fact that the presence of tattoos influences the perception of members of the communities that SAPS members are required to serve,” he said.
“This may affect the ability of members to perform their duties.”
Cele said that tattoos are historically associated with specific, often negatively-connected marginalised groups and backgrounds – such as former prisoners, gangsters or motorcyclists.
“The SAPS cannot afford the risk that communities view members as associating themselves with any specific kind of group, to the perceived detriment of others, who do not belong or associate with such groups,” he said.
The minister said that every SAPS member signs the SAPS Code of Conduct which includes that consideration must be given to how members appear or may be perceived by communities that they serve.
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