778 newly qualified Constables add boots on the ground

Deputy Minister of Police, Polly Boshielo, on Friday addressed 778 newly qualified Constables at the Bhisho South African Police Service (SAPS) Academy, as the police held six parallel passing out parades across the country. The other parades were held at Bishop Lavis Academy in the Western Cape, Mankwe Academy in the North West, Moloto Academy in Mpumalanga and Graaff Reinet and Mthatha academies in the Eastern Cape. The Eastern Cape province received a total 274 new Constables to bolster its crime fighting initiatives. Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nomthetheleli Mene said: "Out of these newly qualified Constables who are passing out today, the Eastern Cape will receive a total of 274, just in time for the Festive Season Operations. We expect to receive more new Constables by December this year.' During her address, Boitshelo said government remained committed to ensuring South Africa achieves the United Nations recommendation of one police officer for every 220 people. 'As of 2023, the p olice-to-population ratio is 1:423, which means we still need to work harder to recruit more police officers,' she said. The new Constables successfully completed the six-month introductory Police Development Learning Programme, with qualifications in the field of Law, Policing and Criminology. They will add more boots on the ground to combat and prevent emerging crime trends. The members will be deployed to various police stations and specialised units, such as Public Order Police (POP), Visible Police (Vispol), and the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) unit. The parallel parades were attended by several stakeholders, families and friends of the newly qualified Constables. Source: South African Government News Agency