SAPS compromising quality of training

By Sasha Forbes
14 September 2008

In the rush to boost SAPS number of reservists, the DA believes that the SAPS is compromising the quality of training. According to a parliamentary reply - reservist training now consists of only 113 hours or 14 eight-hour days, and firearms training a wholly insufficient two days.

Spokesperson Dianne Kohler Barnard says “can we really believe that ordinary people after two days of weapons training can be trusted to make a judgment call about when and how to use potentially lethal force? Is it fair to place ordinary citizens that kind of position, without extensive training?”

The current level of reservists’ training is a far cry from the six months of institution-based theoretical training and six months of field training that permanent SAPS members are required to undertake.