The Commission on Human Rights and Public Administration Integrity in Eswatini has expressed concerns over the ongoing police recruitment exercise, citing the need for changes to the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) recruitment process. The commission highlighted nine concerns about the manner in which the recruitment exercise is being conducted and proposed four measures to make the process more accessible and dignified.
Hundreds of young people have gathered in long queues along public roads, exposing themselves to harsh weather conditions as they wait to access the recruitment centres. The commission acknowledged the need for standard recruitment procedures to ensure fairness and transparency but questioned whether relying exclusively on physical submission of applications was the most accessible and convenient approach.
The recruitment exercise, which commenced on November 2, has seen aspiring police officers converge on regional police headquarters in Hhohho, Manzini, Shiselweni, and Lubombo in pursuit of the limited Constable II positions advertised by the police service. Applicants are required to submit their documents in person at designated Regional Police Headquarters between 8am and 4pm.
The scale of the exercise was evident on its opening day, with applicants beginning to arrive at recruitment centres in the early hours of the morning. In Mbabane, the queue reportedly stretched for approximately 500 metres, from the police station towards Build it Plus and the KFC Drive-Thru. Some applicants arrived as early as 4am, while others spent the night at recruitment centres to secure early positions in the queues.
The commission proposed that future recruitment exercises should allow applicants to submit their documents through different channels, including electronic platforms, tinkhundla centres, and police stations or posts. This would reduce the need for applicants to travel long distances or spend excessive periods waiting in exposed conditions.
The commission also recommended the introduction of electronic and digital submission channels, enabling applicants to submit their documents remotely, at their convenience, without incurring travelling expenses or enduring lengthy queues. Another recommendation is the introduction of phased recruitment or scheduled appointments for applicants who are still required to submit their documents physically.
The current recruitment exercise seeks to fill a limited number of vacant Constable II positions, and the commission called on the police to ensure that all available application channels are communicated to the public well in advance through different platforms. This would allow prospective applicants to choose the submission method that was most accessible and suitable to their circumstances.
Key points
- The Commission on Human Rights and Public Administration Integrity has proposed changes to the police recruitment process.
- The changes aim to make the process more accessible and dignified for applicants.
- The recruitment exercise has raised concerns over the treatment of young people queueing for police jobs.
