News24 reports that two police trainees were removed from the All Saints Police Academy in the Eastern Cape after it was discovered, midway through the programme, that they were pregnant.

Police have launched an internal probe to understand how recruiters did not pick up the pregnancies before enrolling the young women. The pair formed part of 10,000 candidates enrolled nationwide for SAPS' 10-month training programme to become police officers. One of the women has since given birth prematurely at seven months. The second woman's pregnancy was reportedly discovered in May after she became sick on campus. Pregnant women and persons with health conditions are deemed physically unfit to undergo the intense police training regime. Prior to the selection process, candidates are subjected to stringent medical and drug tests before they get to do fitness, psychometric and integrity tests. Meantime, the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) is trying to persuade the police to turn the termination of the contracts into maternity leave, so that the women can return to the programme. Popcru's provincial secretary, Xolani Prusente, said the union was against the termination of the trainees' contracts. He indicated: “We have noted that the trainees' contracts have been suspended and they have been removed from the campus. We are of the view that this move is unfair. They were already doing their training and should be allowed to complete it, after maternity.” National police spokesperson Colonel Athlenda Mathe said SAPS' management was looking into the matter.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Malibongwe Dayimani at News24

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