6 000 cops to get licences

2003-08-05 15:46

Pretoria - About 6 000 police members who do not have drivers' licences are to be taught to drive thanks to a multi-million injection from the European Union (EU), the police service announced on Tuesday.

A drivers' licence became a prerequisite for admission to the police service about four years ago, but about 6 000 who were admitted before that period had yet to acquire the skill, said spokesperson Senior Superintendent Mary Martins-Engelbrecht.

To this end, the EU is to co-fund a R17m training programme over the next 30 months.

The EU is to pay for 19 new training vehicles and 19 external trainers. It would also fund the running costs of the cars, licensing fees, the external trainers' salaries, and accommodation for pupils at the Benoni training college.

The police would fund travel to and from the college, daily allowances for learners and the salaries of in-house trainers.

The programme would boost the police's ability to prevent and react to crime, acting divisional commissioner for training, Chris Botha, said in a statement.

It would also enhance training capacity, and optimise the use of vehicles and local police station level.

"Crime remains a key challenge to the successful transition to democracy in South Africa," he said.

"In our efforts to improve service delivery, an increasingly mobile police service is required."

- SAPA