Publications
Partners
Johannesburg - There is no programme in the SA Police Service which is based on recruiting people of specific races or minority groups, national commissioner Riah Phiyega said on Friday.
"We are striving to ensure that all race groups are represented within [the] training course and are encouraging all who meet the criteria to apply," Phiyega said in a statement.
"We are committed to ensuring that we select the right quality of candidate to provide a professional service."
A target of 3 800 recruits was expected to start the service's two-year training programme this year, she said.
Phiyega said that in certain areas emphasis had been placed on under-represented race groups.
"For the very reason that we want to be representative, we will definitely never compromise quality and we have not excluded any race or language group, or culture, from the process," she said.
She denied reports that KwaZulu-Natal applicants had been told "Zulu-speaking people should not apply".
On Thursday, a number of people who arrived at a hall in Pietermaritzburg hoping to apply for the programme were turned away and told to go to any police station to receive the application forms.
This was because the hall was too full at the time, she said.
"This country belongs to all its citizens, regardless of race, gender or religion and is representative of the diverse cultures which we see in the communities," she said.
