The recruitment process of young people and the jobless into the much-discussed Mpumalanga’s own version of the Nasi iSpani programme is progressing well and at an advance stage.
The MEC for community safety, security and liaison, Jackie Macie, when he addressed the provincial lagislature during his department’s policy and budget speech on August 5.
Macie made an undertaking as soon as he was deployed into this department, that through his department, the provincial government would employ and deploy 1 200 crime prevention wardens (CPWs) in all 90 police stations across the province. Macie said at the time inasmuch as the deployment of the CPWs would help create much-needed job opportunities, it would also help curb the scourge of crime in the province at the same time. “As part of our efforts to curb crime, we will deploy at least 1 200 CPWs who will assist to enhance safety and security in our communities. These wardens will be trained and placed in crime hotspot areas all over the province. They will work together with the SAPS,” said Macie.
“We are thrilled to announce that the processes of recruitment of these CPWs are afoot and at an advanced stage. The department is expected to finalise the recruitment process by end of the third quarter of 2024/25 financial year.”
He said his department is currently engaging with relevant stakeholders such as the State Information Technology Agency to provide capacity-building programmes to equip the wardens not only to chase criminals, but to enhance the protection of citizens’ rights, including vulnerable groups such as women, girls and senior citizens.
“I have instructed officials in my department to present three possible scenarios to adopt and use to keep our wardens motivated. Key among these scenarios is to adopt an interestingly designed uniform and to possibility increase the stipend and to align it to other provinces, but most importantly, we want these wardens to emulate the brave character of Nokuthula Simelane, who could face a heavily armed apartheid security branch even when she was only armed with her revolutionary consciousness,” he said.