AISLING DOHERTY writes via Facebook:
We went to a personnel agency in the hope of an interview and finding work soon.
One of their requirements besides CVs and such, is to have fingerprints done and certified that there is no criminal records on our names.
I thought this strange but thought what the hell, good to have proof of a clear record isn’t it?
We were told to go and have this done at any police station. So off we went to our nearest police station, Norkem Park SAPS.
Although the three staff members in the charge office were friendly and helpful, I was stunned that they were all in civilian clothing, therefore no name badges or rank.
Then to be told by (presumably an officer in an overall) that it would cost us each R96 for this document.
We are unemployed and do not have R96 to do this. So where does that leave us?
And please tell me why our police officers are in civilian clothing behind the desk in the charge office? What has become of our police force? Sad.
Norkem Park SAPS station commander Col Francinah Tshabalala responded by clarifying that the officers in private clothing were indeed policemen who were responsible for light duties and who assisted to relief in the Client Services Centre (CSC) to offer support in rendering duties such as the taking of finger prints.
Tshabalala said they were following regulation with the fee charged for the fingerprints.
“Every police station charges R96 for fingerprints. There is no station that takes prints for free,” she said.
