The graduation ceremony took place at the Bosman Stadium, in Brakpan, and comes at a time when safety and security in Ekurhuleni is in the spotlight, following the recent deaths of two children in Reiger Park, Boksburg, due to crime.
Ekurhuleni mayor Clr Mondli Gungubele called for the EMPD officers to take the fight against crime to the criminals operating in this area.
In accordance with this, the metro has decided to unleash some of the most experienced officers on the Reiger Park area, with immediate effect.
“These men and women are deployed there because of their wealth of experience in crime intelligence,” he said during the event on Friday.
“Some will be increasing police visibility in the area and neighbouring Ramaphosa, while others will engage in gathering intelligence.”
Referring to the recent brutal murders of Taegrin Morris (4) and three-year-old Cuburne van Wyk, Gungubele stated that Ekurhuleni had heard the cries of the Reiger Park community when they said enough is enough.
“We as government are also saying: enough is enough,” he said.
“What this means is that we all have the common challenge of turning the situation around.
“Criminals cannot be allowed to rule our space.”
Gungubele commissioned the Metro Police to devote most of their time and resources spearheading the war against criminals, while maintaining the integrity of the EMPD and building trust within communities.
The new officers will be deployed to various precincts throughout the metro, including the OR Tambo International Airport.
The new recruits are the best of 150 candidates accepted into the EMPD Learnership Programme, in December, 2012.
They began their training in January, this year, and have undergone a series of theory and practical tests to prove their competency.
