64 new peace and traffic officers deployed to Cape Winelands

Between 4 and 5 March 2021, the Minister of Community Safety, Albert Fritz, held three passing out parades for a total of 64 peace and traffic officers in Worcester, Robertson and Ceres, signaling their deployment into the Cape Winelands. Please see photos included.

As of Monday, 8 March 2021, the 64 officers will be deployed on a one-year EPWP placement with the local municipality as peace and traffic officers, capacitating local law enforcement and SAPS.

The deployment of these officers is tied to the Western Cape Safety Plan. Its implementation in rural communities and district municipalities, is made possible through the implementation of the district and local municipalities’ safety plans. These are developed in partnership with the Department of Community Safety, local and district municipalities.

Minister Fritz said, “Our graduates will not work in silos. The training and deployment of our peace and traffic officers will increase the capacity of trainee law enforcement staff in vulnerable and rural local municipalities. They will be deployed under the supervision of the head of law enforcement in the municipality and contribute to the reduction of crime locally. What’s more, the municipality’s law enforcement works closely with SAPS in the rural communities they are deployed to.”

To be accepted onto the peace and traffic officer training programme, participants had to be in possession of a matric, have no criminal record and be in possession of a valid drivers or learner’s license. Candidates also had to be between the ages of 18 to 35.  Thereafter, the municipality forwarded all the application forms to the Department who proceeded with the shortlisting of the applications.  Those shortlisted were forwarded to the municipalities for recommendation. 

Minister Fritz said, “To get to where they are standing today, they further had to undertake rigorous training which is why we are celebrating their graduation. An external service provider was utilized to deliver Peace Officer training to the recruits. The training is further accredited by SAQA which means that this is a qualification that these young people can carry with them throughout their careers.”

In total, 13 rural Municipalities are being supported with the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) accredited Peace Officer training, with 288 Peace Officers completing the training over the last 3 years. Further training will commence in three municipalities from 22 February for 60 trainees.

By the end of March 2021, 348 rural peace officers will have received training. By 1 April 2021, 466 young people will be available to be appointed as peace officers or safety ambassadors from the 24 rural local municipalities.

Minister Fritz added, “In fact, this basic Peace Officer training course is completed by all law enforcement staff and it allows those certified to be employed as trainee peace officers within the law enforcement environment.  Going forward, the municipality are encouraged to provide further law enforcement training to the peace officers in their employ through the Department’s EPWP programme.”

Minister Fritz added further, “To measure the success of their deployment, my Department will implement monitoring mechanisms jointly with the municipality to assess the impact of these young men and women. We look forward to seeing the impact of their hard work on the safety of residents in the community.”

Useful information

• Live stream of passing out parade in Worcester: https://www.facebook.com/MinisterAlbertFritz/videos/454839009198335
• Video of passing out parade:  https://www.facebook.com/MinisterAlbertFritz/videos/899388294243457­