Question NW1489 to the Minister of Police

Reply:

The training of new recruits, involves extensive physical contact and with the current COVID-19 Regulations in place, such as social distancing, restriction/suspension of large gatherings/meetings, etc, it will, therefore, not be possible to subject new recruits to the basic training curriculum, without increasing the risk of exposing them to being infected with COVID-19. The South African Police Service (SAPS) Recruitment Plan is being reviewed to ensure compliance with these regulations and it will be premature at this stage to make any pronouncements, whether the recruitment/training will proceed, in the 2020/2021 financial year.

Following the declaration of a National State of Disaster and the nationwide lockdown, by the President of the Republic of South Africa (RSA), communication pertaining to the recruitment process in the SAPS, was addressed through a media briefing by the SAPS, in March 2020 and again, in July 2020. It was announced to the nation that the SAPS, 2020 Police Trainee Intake, was suspended until further notice, due to the COVID-19 Pandemic and as a result, each applicant in the process was not personally informed of any delays. The SAPS received half a million applications for recruitment and it will not be possible to inform each applicant individually.

The trainees who were recruited, in the 2018/2019 financial year, attended a passing out parade, in the 2019/2020 financial year (during December 2019) and the graduation was not affected by COVID-19.

Reply to question 1489 recommended

GENERAL NATIONAL COMMISSIONER: SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE SERVICE
KJ SITOLE (SOEG)
DATE: 2020/08/12

Reply to question 1489 approved

MINISTER OF POLICE
GENERAL BH CELE, MP
Date: 26/08/2020