Traffic cop recruitment: We want answers, to be employed, say applicants

While Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga welcomed 600 aspiring traffic cops to the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) traffic trainee programme at the Boekenhoutkloof Traffic Training Academy, a group of applicants who didn’t make the cut demanded a second chance to be enrolled.

RTMC spokesperson Simon Zwane said it was as simple as they didn’t make the cut.

Zwane said they were aware of the applicants who picketed.

“We had 92 000 applicants, there is no way we could take everybody,” he said.

Best of best enrolled

Zwane said the best of the best was enrolled.

ALSO READ: RTMC condemns corruption, calls for tougher sentences

One of the rejected applicants, Xolani Chili, who spoke on behalf of the disappointed hopefuls, said they suspected foul play during the final stages of the recruitment process.

“We want answers. We also want to attend college in June and we also want to be employed. The objective of the report is to notify the recruitment agency Milton Resourcing and 11 stakeholders of how we are unhappy about the recruitment process,” he said.

Chili said the applicants were notified of the dates and locations of the assessment via SMS.

“Most of us completed a physical assessment, a driving assessment and the interview,” he said.

“Most of us were invited for fingerprints and were awaiting medical tests when we heard there was an orientation taking place today without us.”

ALSO READ: Over 1 000 motorists arrested over Easter weekend across the country

Chili said they had a whatsApp group of over 800 hopeful traffic cops who did not make it to the orientation.

Chili said their demands included that all successful candidates have the opportunity to undergo the medical tests and those who passed to join the orientation programme for trainees.

‘I really wanted to qualify’

Another applicant Nthabi Nkosi said she arrived at the academy at about 6am to find out why her application was unsuccessful.

“I fractured my wrist flipping a tyre during the physical assessment and continued with a broken wrist. I really wanted to qualify,” she said.

Nkosi said she would do anything to be part of the programme.

ALSO READ: Operation Catfish catches 14 people for issuing illegal driving licences

She applied in 2022 and got a response last year. She passed the fitness test and was invited for an interview and then went for the fingerprint verification.

“I got a call that I made it to the final stage of the process, but never received the confirmation SMS,” she said.

Nkosi said she was passionate about serving the country and wanted to follow in the footsteps of her brother who is a police officer.

“This was my only hope, but my dreams were shattered at the gate and nobody wants to listen to us or answer us,” she said.

Third intake of trainee traffic officers

Yesterday, Chikunga welcomed the third intake of 600 trainee traffic officers who would start training on 1 June.

ALSO READ: Watch: RTMC threatens arrest over Shaun Stylist viral stunt obstructing traffic

“Only the best selected from thousands of hopefuls,” she said.