09 Nov 2017

Minister of Defence, Justice and Security, Mr Shaw Kgathi said due to security considerations, he could not disclose the number of special constables stationed at Tlokweng Police Station.

Answering a question in Parliament on November 7, Minister Kgathi said since 2014, the Botswana Police Service has been drawing recruit trainees from the special constables cadre.

He said Police Standing Order No.3 prescribed 30 years as the maximum age for enlistment.

However, he added that a decision was taken to waive the age limit of special constables to 35 years.

He said it should be noted that it would not be sustainable to increase the age limit beyond 35 in consideration of the mental and physical exertion of training.

Mr Kgathi also pointed out that seven special constables at Tlokweng Police Station do not qualify to be absorbed for training or as regular police officers because of the age limit.

He said when a decision was taken to offer two-year contracts to Special Constables, key factors considered were on the individuals’ performance and exigencies of the service.

He said similarly, these factors were considered through-out the service of a Special Constable and whether to renew or not to renew his/her contract.

The minister was answering a question from Tlokweng MP, Mr Masego Segokgo who had wanted to know the number of special constables that were stationed at Tlokweng Police Station.

Mr Segokgo had also wanted to know when the special constables will be taken for training as well as the age at which they were no longer legible to go to the police college.

The legislator had also wanted to know the number of special constables at Tlokweng Police Station who were not eligible to go for further training due to age restriction. 

Further he had asked the minister to state whether offering contracts of employment to special constables who had been in the service for some years before the cut-off age, was a way of preparing them for exit from the police service as per the terms of reference in the said contract. ENDS