The South African Policing Union (Sapu) in Hazyview urged law enforcement officers to embark on a healthy lifestyle as their daily duties requires mental and physical fitness.

Sapu’s provincial deputy chairperson, Jacky Hlongwane, said an exercise regime had been embarked on during the regular Wednesday police sports day in the Hazyview policing area.
“We started the initiative because we want the police to always be physically and mentally fit, so they can do their jobs properly.

“If the officers are not fit, how are they going to deal with aggressive criminals? We believe these exercise sessions will help them. We encourage all law enforcement officials to embark on healthy lifestyles.”
He also encouraged them to exercise during their spare time.

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Hlongwane said the Wednesday sessions would not interfere with operations at police stations, but works on rotation. “We urge all SAPS members to work out on a daily basis. We are calling on all police officers across the province to strive to be physically fit and make use of the Wednesday sports days to start workout groups; it will help them a lot. This initiative started as a group of five and now we are more than 100,” he said.

At the moment, only SAPS members are allowed to be part of the group for safety reasons. The group split in to two, with one using the R536 (Sabie Road) and the other the R538 towards Phabeni Gate for the workout sessions.