Business Tech reports that the SA Police Service (SAPS) announced on Tuesday that the recruitment and training of police trainees was still on hold.

In a statement, the SAPS said the training, which had been scheduled to commence in January 2021, had not begun and would be on hold until a formal announcement was made by management. “The service had intended to train and subsequently enlist 7,000 youth within its ranks in a bid to capacitate and bolster crime-fighting initiatives at all 1,154 police stations and service points in South Africa,” said the service. SAPS spokesperson Athlenda Mathe advised that the recruitment process had already reached an advanced stage with recruits having undergone a rigorous process to determine their eligibility to serve as men and women in blue, when it was suspended. “The current challenges experienced with the Covid-19 pandemic such as social distancing, restrictions and or limitations of large gatherings makes it impossible for training to commence,” she explained. Mathe added that the basic training of new recruits, which involved extensive physical contact, could not proceed under the current Covid-19 restrictions in place. The SAPS encouraged applicants to keep in contact with their relevant Recruitment Offices to enquire about any further pronouncements.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard at Business Tech

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