Abstract
he South African Police Services (SAPS) department is losing staff due to reasons such as early retirement. This creates a skills gap for junior workers, when they fill the vacancies created by these retirees, without appropriate grooming. The non-use of a succession plan within the SAPS has resulted in staff being placed in posts they are not fully qualified for or experienced in. This has, resulted in low morale. The purpose of the research was to examine the effect of succession planning on the morale of employees in the KZN, SAPS. A qualitative research method was adopted for the study. It used purposive sampling which consisted of ten (10) SAPS, members: five (5) Police Act members and five (5) Public Service Act members) at the office of the Provincial Commissioner in KZN. The sampling technique used was purposive. The sample was selected based on the knowledge and long-term experience in the KZN SAPS. The examination used the thematic inquiry approach to find out more about the experiences, emotions, knowledge or encounters of the respondents. The results were that the KZN SAPS had little or no knowledge of succession planning. While a promotion strategy is used by the KZN SAPS, it does not, however, promote successful succession planning or management of it...
M.Com. (Business Management)