A mood of excitement was all over as trainees geared up for their final passing out parade after two years of intense training in Basic Police Development Learning Programme.
Parents, families attended in high numbers to witness and support the trainees.
National component Head, In Service Police development, Maj Gen Chauke said, “849 trainees from Eastern Cape, Freestate and Northern Cape were accepted at the beginning of recruitment at Bisho.
Twenty four trainees did not complete successful because of misconduct, dishonesty and one accidental death.
The training focused on the following police orientation, law, CSC, crime prevention and detection, street survival and crowd management said Maj Gen Chauke.
Acting Eastern Cape Provincial Commissioner, Major General Swart addressing the parade said to ensure we enlist the ‘cream of the crop’ into the service, all applicants were subjected to physical fitness, psychometric and integrity testing as well as medical evaluations during the recruitment, selection and enlistment process. Vetting and fingerprints were also conducted.
Also added and recently introduced in the curriculum are cybercrime and tactical response training said Maj Gen Swart.
Maj Gen Swart said the aim of this approach is to enable newly appointed police officials to use a series of legal and policing skills to protect and serve members of communities in accordance with constitution of South Africa. It also aims to provide more effective service that will improve community satisfaction.
Maj Gen Swart used this opportunity to denounce police killings.
“Killing of our police members remains a serious concern to the management of SAPS,” he emphasized. Twenty nine members died on duty nationally this year.
He further stressed the importance of intensified internal awareness, campaigns to increase safety and reduce attacks, vehicle accidents and the killing of police officials.
“It is however every member’s responsibility to ensure that they adhere to all the basic police safety guidelines on and off duty,” as he urged all members to be eternally vigilant.
When trainees depart from the various academies, they will be placed at police stations for 12 months’ probation to gain further practical experience and in service training.
Major Gen Swart also pleaded with new police members on parade not to be part of individuals who tarnish the image of SAPS. “Never turn away a complainant or a victim of crime as you would be failing to execute your constitutional mandate,” he warned.
He further encouraged trainees never to unlearn or forget what they were trained to do at the college and to stand further away from temptation to take a bribe.
These members are now ready to supplement our resources and some of these will be deployed for Safer Festive Season duties on 24 December 2018.
Colonel Exford from the Bhisho SAPS Academy thanked everyone who worked tirelessly to ensure the successful training and passing out parade. Display of police work were executed to entertain the audience.
Source: South African Police Service