Thousands of aspiring police officers in Eswatini spent the night queuing outside regional police headquarters to secure a spot in the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) recruitment process. The dream of wearing the police uniform drove many to arrive at recruitment centers in the early hours or spend the night nearby. According to reports, hundreds of applicants were turned away on the first day due to time constraints and were told to return the following morning.
In Mbabane, a 26-year-old aspiring police officer from Bulembu in the Hhohho Region arrived at Mbabane Police Station at 1 am to submit her application. Nomfundo Mndzebele traveled to Mbabane the previous night and arranged to sleep at her sister's flat in Mangwaneni before making her way to the police station in the early hours of the morning. Her efforts reflect the determination of many hopefuls seeking an opportunity to join the REPS.
The situation was similar in other parts of the country, with applicants arriving at recruitment centers in the early hours. In Nhlangano, 28-year-old Sifiso Shabangu from Ngudzeni left home at 7 pm the previous evening and spent the night outside the police station. He became the first applicant in the queue at 3:30 am. Unemployed 30-year-old Nompilo Hleta from Jabulani arrived at the Shiselweni Regional Police Headquarters at 5:45 am and was around number 100 in the queue.
The recruitment exercise officially commenced at around 8:30 am on Monday and continued until nearly 5 pm. However, numerous applicants were unable to enter the selection venue and submit their documents before operations closed for the day. They were instructed to return the following morning. Thandolwethu Sithole, a resident of Ngololweni, was among those who were turned away after 5 pm on Monday.
Despite the challenges, applicants remained hopeful and determined to secure a spot in the REPS. Nosisa Maphalala, from Mahamba under the Maseyisini Inkhundla, arrived at approximately 5 am and found herself at position 725. She said her decision to apply for the police force was driven by the shortage of employment opportunities in the country. Vusumuzi Nkambule, from KaMfishane under the Kubuta Inkhundla, initially arrived on Monday at around 9 am but turned back after encountering an extraordinarily long queue.
The massive turnout for the police recruitment exercise demonstrates the need for jobs among citizens. Mlandvo Kunene, also from KaMfishane, similarly withdrew on Monday before returning at around 4 am the following morning, securing the 200th position in the queue. He revealed that this was his second attempt to apply for the police force, having previously passed the interview stage in 2021 but never receiving a follow-up call.
The police recruitment exercise has sparked concerns about the unemployment crisis in Eswatini. Many young people graduate from tertiary institutions only to remain unemployed. The Commission on Human Rights and MPs have raised concerns about the ongoing police recruitment process. The situation highlights the need for the government to address the unemployment crisis and provide more job opportunities for citizens.
Key points
- Thousands of applicants queue overnight for Eswatini police recruitment
- Applicants face challenges due to time constraints and large numbers
- The recruitment exercise highlights the need for jobs and the unemployment crisis in Eswatini
