Joburg welcomes 1 500 new JMPD recruits

18 October 2017

 

They stand to attention in neat rows of twenty, dressed in black and white, all 1 500 new recruits as they wait to be formerly inducted into the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Academy (JMPD) training programme.

 

Spirits are high and emotions fluctuate between excitement and nervousness at the realization of their dreams of becoming police officers. Some have come from as far as Prieska in the Northern Cape to join the JMPD driven by a passion to serve and protect.

From January, they will undergo an 18 months rigorous training, incorporating both theory and practice to understand the Road Traffic Management Act, the South African Police Act, Police Ethics, Criminal Procedure, Criminal Evidence, firearm training, point duty, defensive driving and self defence.

As they attentively listen to the Member of the Mayoral Committee for Public Safety (MMC), Councillor Michael Sun, the reality of the work and requirements of what lies ahead sinks in.
MMC Sun tells recruits, “As you stand here in the heat, think of your families, your situation and always remember this day as the first day in your life to becoming a police officer. No matter who leads this City, you have a huge responsibility to serve with pride and honesty to make a difference and always be resist temptation.”

In addressing recruits Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, Councillor Herman Mashaba says, “You are privileged to have been selected to join the City’s metro police, you will be exposed to various situations during your training and will be required to master these to become effective smart police officers that will make Joburg a safer place.”

Mayor Mashaba did not mince his words as he cautioned recruits on upholding the law and dispelling any notions of wrong doing because “we treat corruption and crime very seriously in Johannesburg”.

Continuing he said, “My wish is to see Johannesburg having its own courts, prosecutors and holding cells so that we can effectively deal with crime and bylaw transgressions”.

At the end of the speeches there was a ceremonial handing over appointment letters followed by the symbolic handing over of the JMPD flag that signifies its ethos.