According to metro spokesperson Themba Gadebe, the military veterans will, among others, receive training on by-laws education and enforcement in Ekurhuleni communities.
“The former liberation struggle fighters have been enlisted into the metro’s Peace Corps programme, which is aimed at curbing general disorder and lack of compliance of municipal and national laws that have been enacted to ensure an orderly and peaceful society,” says Gadebe.
The duties of Peace Corps officers include crime prevention through foot patrols; assisting in by-law education and enforcement; traffic control through point duty including school points; assisting metro police officers at gatherings and events; social crime prevention as well as reporting service delivery issues to relevant Ekurhuleni departments.
The veterans were addressed by Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) on Community Safety Clr Mthuthuzeli Siboza, who told the former combatants to discharge their duties with utmost respect and dignity.
One of the recruits, 47-year-old Nhlanhla Khanye is set on rooting out the scourge of the nyaope drug 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 are also very happy for this opportunity to serve our communities,” says Khanye who is also known by his exile name, Morogoro (also a name of a town in Tanzania).
Gadebe says there are more than 700 former combatants on Ekurhuleni’s database.
“Some will be placed at FET colleges in Ekurhuleni to train as artisans from next month. The metro’s demilitarisation office is working tirelessly to ensure that all former combatants are demilitarised and able to participate in the mainstream economy.” – @TumeloBoksburg
