Deputy Minister of Police, Polly Boshielo (MP), addressed 778 newly qualified constables at the Bhisho SAPS Academy last week.
The police held six parallel passing-out parades at Bishop Lavis Academy in the Western Cape, Mankwe Academy in the North West, Moloto Academy in Mpumalanga, and Graaff Reinet and Mthatha Academies in the Eastern Cape.
The Eastern Cape received a total of 274 new constables to bolster its crime-fighting initiatives. Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nomthetheleli Mene, stated, “Out of these newly qualified constables, who are passing out today, the Eastern Cape will receive a total of 274, just in time before we start with the Festive Season Operations. We expect to receive more new constables by December this year,” added Lt Gen Mene.
Bhisho SAPS Academy hosted Deputy Minister Polly Boshielo at its passing-out parade. During her address, Boshielo said,
The new constables successfully completed the six-month introductory Police Development Learning Programme, with pertinent qualifications in Law, Policing, and Criminology.
They are ready and prepared to add more boots on the ground and to combat and prevent emerging crime trends. These members will be deployed to various police stations and specialised units, such as the Public Order Police (POP), Visible Police (Vispol), and the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) unit.
Their deployment is crucial as it will bolster the SAPS’s capacity to combat crime in the Eastern Cape.
The parallel parades were attended by several stakeholders, families, and friends of the newly qualified constables. The proceedings ended with drill displays.
