This after writing to President Cyril Ramaphosa and Police Minister, Bheki Cele, without a response from both the president and minister over permanent employment. The reservists who are up in arms against the recruitment policies or processes in the five districts, including Dr Kenneth Kaunda, Bojanala, and the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District, have accused the police service of living in limbo for years. A source in the upper echelons of the police earlier said some of the reservists have more than 15 years of service without receiving a penny, and allegedly were made false promises of permanent employment.

READ MORE: NW SAPS reservists up in arms

This source, who spoke to OFM News on the basis of anonymity over the fear of victimisation, claims that the irate reservists have been told that they will not be hired because of their body weight and because some are without matric certificates. However, this source says the police's rationale behind the argument is nonsensical since they have worked mostly on crime prevention units and have always managed to pass the fitness test. The police are yet to comment on OFM News' detailed inquiry.

The group has since decided to write to the offices of the presidency and police ministry over their decade-long battle with police over employment.

In a letter addressed to both President Ramaphosa and Minister Cele they say: “We, the reservists of North West, feel exploited and unfairly treated. We have been loyal to SAPS for a period of more than 15 years without being paid, with which we had no problem as we were told so when we were recruited but now as this intake is strictly for reservists and securities, we are being shut out because of we are not meeting their Body Mass Index (BMI) requirements and matric,” they added.

OFM News