The EFF’s Member of the National Assembly (MP), Kenny Motsamai, tells OFM News that the party has joined the battle to offer support to the reservists. He says despite the criticism about the party joining the struggle these reservists across five districts in the province, that it’s the right thing to do. Motsamai says it doesn’t make sense to train and arm the reservists for years and still deny them employment.

"I have spoken to the Minister of Police, Bheki Cele, asking why he is not hiring these people permanently. So, tomorrow (Tuesday) I’ll be with them when they march to the Union Building, to offer them the party’s support. We want to assist them because they are the most relevant people to assist and they are not being paid whilst they work or do exactly as the permanently employed officers,” Motsamai adds.

A group of these reservists is on Tuesday expected to march to the Union Building, protesting against the SAPS. They are also set to be joined by other disgruntled Gauteng reservists who also demand to be permanently employed.

READ MORE: Irate NW SAPS reservists head to Union Building

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.

They have now come to demand to be hired permanently without any conditions attached to it.

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

OFM News