Former military combatants to fight crime
The military veterans will among other things, receive training on by-law education and enforcement in Ekurhuleni communities.
The Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM) has confirmed it will be enrolling 56 former military combatants in a course at the Ekurhuleni Metro Police College, which will prepare them to assist the EMPD in its work to maintain order in communities.
The military veterans will among other things, receive training on by-law education and enforcement in Ekurhuleni communities. The former struggle fighters have been enlisted into the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan’s Peace Corps programme.
The programme is aimed at curbing general disorder and lack of compliance of municipal and national laws, which were enacted to ensure an orderly and peaceful society.
The duties of Peace Corps officers includes crime prevention through foot patrols, assisting in by-law education and enforcement, traffic control through point duty including school points, assisting EMPD officers at gatherings and events, social crime prevention and reporting service delivery issues to the relevant Ekurhuleni departments.
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Safety, Clr Mthuthuzeli Siboza, told the former combatants to discharge their duties with the utmost respect and dignity by reflecting the values of a law enforcing organisation.
“While it was not the municipality’s competency to deal with the matters of struggle fighters, the EMM has seen it necessary to respond to the plight of former combatants in the area of Ekurhuleni,” said Clr Siboza.
One of the recruits, 47-year-old Mr Nhlanhla Khanye, is set on rooting out the scourge of nyaope in communities.
“We fought for freedom so that our young people may enjoy quality education and not for them to destroy their lives through the use of nyaope. We are determined to work with residents and rid our communities of the scourge. We also happy with this opportunity to serve our communities,” said Mr Khanye.
There are more than 700 ex-combatants on the EMM database. Some will be placed at FET colleges in Ekurhuleni to train as artisans from next month. @BedfordEdenvale
