Police to study for learners’ licences

Category: National News

Date Added: 12 March 2010

By Bongani Fuzile

Eastern Cape police officers, some over 50 years of age, will this week leave for Gauteng to study for their learners’ driving licences.

South African Police Services (SAPS) has budgeted over R120 000 to train 70 police officers for their learners’ licences from Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.

Fifty-two of the officers are from the Eastern Cape.

Captain Thozama Solani said the idea was to promote police service delivery to the public.

“These are some of the efforts that our police ministry is doing to support the service delivery.

“If these officers from the province can have their drivers’ licences, that will make work easy for other members.

“As King William’s Town cluster, we say thumbs up,” Solani said.

In the province 14 of the officers come from East London, 13 from King William’s Town and two from Port Elizabeth.

The remainder are from different police stations in the province.

The officers will embark on a five-day training course at Benoni Police College.

The training is compulsory and those who fail to attend face disciplinary action.

Each member will be granted a travel allowance of R130 for the return trip for food and beverages, which amounts to a total of about R18 200.

The rest of the budget will go towards training and accommodation.

East London police spokesperson Superintendent Mtati Tana said the support from the national department was most appreciated.

“This idea came in handy for the police at this time as there are many activities across the country that need police visibility.

“This will help in uplifting the spirit of the officers when doing their jobs as such opportunities are rare in some places,” said Tana.

Source: Daily Dispatch