07 Aug 2019

The Minister of Defence, Justice and Security, Mr Shaw Kgathi, has told Parliament that the role of special constables is as stated in the Police Act, Cap 21:01.

They are appointed in accordance with Section 43 of the Police Act ( Cap 21: 01) to perform police duties.

Answering a question in Parliament on August 5, he said police officers, under Section 6 of the Police Act, were employed to protect life and property, to prevent and detect crime and enforce all written laws, amongst other things.

“There are no peculiar duties for special constables,” he said.

Mr Kgathi said the number of special constables to date was 3 259 out of a total establishment of 3 657, adding that recruitment processes for the 398 vacancies was ongoing.

He further said there were 572 special constables who worked for more than 10 years, without being enlisted as constables on a permanent and pensionable basis.

The reasons for not making it into the police recruit training was that they did not meet the necessary requirements.

He was answering a question from Gaborone North MP, Mr Haskins Nkaigwa who had asked the minister to state the specific role of special constables, the number of special constables to date and how many worked for over 10 years without being absorbed into the service on a permanent and pensionable employment and why. ENDS