WATCH: Veterans feel sidelined over crime prevention warden jobs
The parade took place at the Tsakani Stadium on Sunday
Tsakani – The uMKhonto wesizwe Military Veterans Association (MKMVA) from Kathorus picketed outside Tsakani Stadium on Sunday.
This was at the provincial crime prevention wardens (CPW) parade hosted by the Gauteng Department of Community Safety.
The parade was to mark the end of training by the wardens and their deployment into communities.
Sibusiso Makama, who is the Ekurhuleni MKMVA coordinator for the CPW applicants, said, “We don’t know the criteria used to select the wardens.
“Some of us were called for assessments, however, till today they didn’t get the results and also still don’t know how they performed.”
He said the department told them they absorbed some of the MKMVA, however, when asked for a number the department couldn’t tell.
“We had given the department a list of 164 names and not even one from the list was hired. What happened?
“How did they hire those who are now in the green uniform?” Makama said.
Makama said when putting down the list, they followed the requirements and that they didn’t just take anyone as they wanted to make sure that they all form part of the 6 000 wardens.
Moses Geca, who is the Thokoza coordinator for the CPW applicants, said they followed every step of the process until they got to the assessment stages at Modderbbee Prison and that they were shocked to find out that now the list of the applicants for the second phase will be taken to the MEC who will be doing the selection herself.
No one from the department addressed the picketers on the day. Meanwhile, the parade took place inside the stadium with a fully packed audience.
As part of the parade, Gauteng Traffic officers together with the CPW did drills which included the Russian drill which was said to be first seen in South Africa at the stadium.
As part of his speech, Premier Panyaza Lesufi announced that the CPW will have 180 drones which will be used during searches before wardens go so that their lives are not endangered.
He also said the wardens will have six helicopters which will be used as a source of direction and also as back-up.
“We are tired of lawlessness in Gauteng and we will make sure that we deal with crime to keep our streets safe,” he said.
Lesufi also mentioned that on June 16 the government will share 8 000 permanent posts for the youth. CPW Mamahlatsi Sibiya said being a CPW means serving and protecting the community.
“I got interested and applied because I am from one of the corrupt townships which is full of crime and lawlessness, Ratanda and the SAPS doesn’t have enough force,” she said.
She concluded by saying they are here to bring change and keep communities safe.
