The military veterans will amongst 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.
The programme 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.
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
Addressing the veterans on Wednesday, last week, Member of the Mayoral Committee on Community Safety, Clr Mthuthuzeli Siboza, told the former combatants to discharge their duties with utmost respect and dignity by reflecting the values of a law enforcing organization.
According to Siboza, while it is not the municipality’s function to deal with the matters of liberation struggle fighters, the metro has seen it necessary to respond to the plight of former combatants in the area of Ekurhuleni.
One of the recruits, 47 year-old Nhlanhla Khanye, also known by his exile name, Morogoro, 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,” he said.
“We are determined to work with residents and rid our communities of the scourge.
“We also very happy for this opportunity to serve our communities.”
There are more than 700 ex-combatants on Ekurhuleni’s database.
Some will be placed at FET colleges in Ekurhuleni to train as artisans from next month.
The metro’s demilitarization office is working tirelessly to ensure that all former combatants are demilitarized and able to participate in the mainstream economy.
