Pretoria - About 200 Tshwane Metro Police Department trainees are out in the cold after having their contracts terminated under controversial circumstances this week.
The department has defended its decision to dismiss almost 10 percent of the trainees recruited last year, saying they had failed their exams.
However, the trainees, speaking outside the training college at Premos where they were protesting, said they were axed because there was a plot to cut down their numbers.
The crop of 2 200 recruits was part of an initiative to make the city safer by deploying at least 10 officers in each municipal ward.
The trainees, who have been protesting for the past two days, said they were dismissed unfairly and without warning, or a chance to complete the metro police course.
The department dismissed these allegations, saying “the fewer than 200 recruits” failed to meet the requirements for part of the course.
They were given the chop after being given numerous chances to redeem themselves, said metro police spokesman Senior Superintendent Isaac Mahamba.
One of the protesting trainees, Thapelo Dhlamini, said they were shocked when they were told on Monday to return uniforms as their contracts would be terminated by the end of the week.
“Most of us failed one of the nine subjects which was part of the course.
“In this case, we were meant to be given a chance to repeat. Some of us even qualified for supplementary exams but were not informed about the dates they would be written,” said a furious Dhlamini.
“There is nepotism, bribery is happening. If you can’t pay anyone, or if you’re not related to anyone you are going to fail.”
Dhlamini accused some of the instructors of leaking exam papers.
“People are receiving copies of exam papers via WhatsApp a few days before we write the exams. They are sent to them by the instructors so that they pass.”
Some trainees alleged there were enlisted metro officers, some ranked as inspectors, who were still studying and writing entry level exams.
He said the course was divided into two parts: one administered by the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) that qualified trainees as traffic officers.
The second part comprises elective courses for police officers and is administered by the SAPS.
“A person must first pass the RTMC course before proceeding to the second one. The current crop of 2 000 had to attend the RTMC course and write the exams.
“Students were given the first chance, then the second (supplementary) chance.
“This means that the under 200 who have been dismissed failed to pass even after being given the second chance.
“The RTMC policy states that a student may have to exit the programme after failing the second chance,” Mahamba said.
He confirmed there were inspectors who were writing exams as part of their bridging training after being recruited from the SAPS.
Pretoria News