By Everson Luhanga
The South African Police Service (SAPS) has boosted the Special Task Force Unit with an additional 13 newly trained members.
The new members have been added to the existing members to fight violent crimes such as hostage situations, kidnappings, cash-in-transit robberies, and illicit mining operations.
The members were revealed in Pretoria on Thursday at an event attended by Deputy National Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili and other senior police officers.
Speaking at the event, Lieutenant General Mosikili said the process entails a tough 15-month program to guarantee members are trained to a high skill level.
“An STF Parachute Wing badge on the chest signifies that the member has been trained at a high level of weapon proficiency, hostage release tactics, and the ability to deploy operationally by parachute into all territories,” she said.
Mosikili said South Africa needs a police service with members that are loyal, disciplined, upright in character, patriotic, and willing to serve the country with pride and dignity.
“We have every confidence in you that you will have meaningful and successful careers as STF members. Always remember that this is a calling. It’s about passion and commitment to the badge,” she told the new recruits.
Mosikili said members must be younger than 32 years of age and must have served in an operational environment for at least two years.
“Members must also have undergone and been successful in the pre-selection phase which consists of various rigorous exercises to determine if the member can endure the STF Selection Training Programme.”
National police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe said more than 525 members applied to join the elite unit. 150 made it to the five-week pre-selection phase while 110 made it into the training programme and 13 will wear the STF badge.
Pictured above: The 13 members of the Special Task Force.
Image source: SAPS
