SAPS and Polmed join forces to commemorate Youth Day
The South African Police Service and Polmed have joined forces to mark Youth Day and offer support to their young members.
As South Africa marks Youth Day, the South African Police Service and Polmed have joined forces to support young officers.
National SAPS Commissioner General Fannie Masemola said the SAPS has trained and hired more than 30,000 young people aged 18 to 35 over the past three years.
“These young police officers are now deployed to bolster crime combatting efforts at the grassroots level of policing where police visibility and services are most needed”, said General Masemola.
He said some of the officers are now in community service centres, where they interact directly with victims of crime.
GENERAL MASEMOLA SAYS THERE IS POTENTIAL TO GROW WITHIN SAPS
General Masemola said the SAPS is currently grooming 4 000 officers to become detectives in a bid to boost the conviction rate.
He added that another 5 000 officers have been trained as members of the Public Order Police unit, and they are deployed daily to manage protests and crowd gatherings.
Among them is 29-year-old Constable Nsuku Reanoldar Mathonsi from Burgersfort, Limpopo, who recently won a gold medal at this year’s Comrades Marathon.
MATHONSI MAKES HISTORY THROUGH POLMED SUPPORT
Limpopo SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba said Mathonsi made history as the first female officer to earn the Robert Mtshali Medal. The Comrades Marathon awards this medal to runners who finish the race in under 9 hours and 10 minutes.
“Mathonsi completed this year’s Comrades Marathon in a time of 08:17:33,” said Mashaba.
“As a medical scheme dedicated to the health and wellbeing of South African Police Service members, we are honoured to have been part of her incredible journey,” said Polmed Principal Officer, Neo Khauoe.
Khauoe further said that Mathonsi’s achievement reflects what members can achieve when they receive holistic support.