BY PHUMELELE MKHONTA
MBABANE– A collaboration between two nations!
The long-lasting bilateral relations between the Kingdom of Eswatini and the Republic of South Africa were evident this past weekend when the Royal Eswatini Police Services (REPS) entourage assisted in training the Gauteng Crime Prevention Wardens with their Russian drill, which is used to instill discipline and inculcate the police culture to trainees.
This morning, the Gauteng Crime Prevention Wardens Head of Department Nontsikelelo Sisulu bid farewell to the Eswatini Police entourage, following their attendance at the pass-out parade of the Crime Prevention Wardens.
When sought for comment, Police Information and Communications Officer (PICO) Superintendent Phindile Vilakati said the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) had a long relationship with the South Africa Police Service (SAPS).
“As law enforcement agencies in the SADC region, we have areas of collaboration which include strong cooperation in dealing with cross border crimes and other policing fields. The relationship stretches to other security agencies such as Traffic Cops and Community Safety.
“As such, the REPS was honored to lend facilitators in the training of 6 000 Community Wardens who are an arm of the Gauteng Traffic,” said Vilakati.
Vilakati further revealed that the National Commissioner of Police Tsitsibala Dlamini attended the Community Wardens’ graduation ceremony which was held at the Giant Stadium in Pretoria, Soshanguve.
The Gauteng Government has launched a new force of 6 000 Crime Prevention Wardens on May 1, 2023, to protect residents, particularly in Townships, Informal Settlements, and Hostels (TISH). These wardens will be on patrol 24/7 across Gauteng and will collaborate with other law enforcement authorities. The Gauteng government defines crime prevention wardens as a “multiplier force” supplementing police visibility and responsiveness in communities. The wardens are the ears and eyes of the police, but most importantly patrol every street and every ward.
