The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union POPCRU is a trade union organisation in South Africa operating within the South African Police Service SAPS , the Department of Correctional Services DCS and the Traffic component POPCRU represents more than hundred and fifty thousand 150 000 Police, Corrections and Traffic Officials This gigantic movement was established on the 5th November 1989 at the height of the liberation struggle within the country Prior to the establishment of POPCRU, institutional racism was entrenched within the Public Service and the three departments where we operate were the implementer of such atrocious practices There was huge salary disparity among various racial groupings, Blacks being the least paid.