SAPS give career guidance to matric learners

The SAPS in collaboration with the Gauteng Department of Education and UJ hosted a police career exhibition at the Soweto Campus on April 12.

The aim of the event was to educate matriculants from local schools about multiple careers within the South African Police Services.

On their quest to end the stigma around SAPS having one career path of being deployed to chase criminals and being the least earners, the exhibition was aimed at unpacking the various career choices they offer that align with the learners’ desired professions.

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Thaba-Jabula Secondary School, Musi High, Emshukantambo Secondary School and Progress Secondary School were the four high schools invited to the SAPS career guidance event.

Captain Hitler Ngwenya, Communication Officer at Kliptown SAPS said, “The purpose of this exhibition is to expose the youth to the various fields of careers in the SAPS with over 100 000 salary per annum. Today we have multiple departments from Crime Intelligence right to the K9 Unit.”

Units present at the event included Crime Intelligence, the Hawks, Public Order Policing (POP), Mounted Unit, K9 Unit, Tactical Response Team (TRT), Accident Responders, Air-wing, Crime Prevention, Detectives and members from the Provincial Components.

According to the Congress of South African Students (COSAS) Johannesburg representative, Karabo Motshwaedi, the insightful presentations that were delivered by respective SAPS departments will enable learners to not only fixture the success of their future based on being enrolled at universities.

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“I believe these learners have received clarity and are aware of other institutions that cater for their desired careers.

“When they finish their matric, they are no longer limited to applying to varsities but they can now apply at SAPS as well as the SANDF,” said Motshwaedi.

Because they only hosted four secondary schools in Pimville with learners who are doing matric, a representative from the education department emphasised that next year they will invite all schools from Soweto and learners from Grade nine.

Mmbulaheni Mphuma, speaking on behalf of the principals said, “Going forward we aim to include Grade nines so that there is something that drives them towards the subject choices for Grade ten that will align with their careers.”

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The learners were encouraged to take this information and use it for the success of their future prospects. They were also advised to join the SAPS as a calling and not for personal enrichment.

“When I joined, I wanted to serve my community and give back as a police official. We are hoping that they will take these opportunities to join our department and prevent crime to create a safer country for everyone,” Captain Ngwenya concluded.