Honoured guests,
Members on parade,
Families and friends.
Today is a very special one for the men and women on parade before us. This event is a celebration, an occasion to mark the fact that these smart young people in blue have completed their police training and are about to embark on their careers in the South African Police Service.
Distinguished guests, I am sure that you will understand that I am going to address this speech to the graduating police constables on parade. This is a message that they should keep close to their hearts and embedded in their minds for the next few decades.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) class of 2011 is a very special one. This is the first group in history which has completed a two-year training programme. This means, members on parade, that you are indeed fully trained and 100% prepared to go out there into the communities to serve and to protect, and to do so with the utmost professionalism.
The intensive training that you have received over the past two years must shine through in your every word and action. Every law-abiding citizen with whom you interact must see you as someone who embodies service delivery, someone who will go out of his or her way to help, and someone who will never be feared within the community they have sworn to serve.
In order to be this wonderful ambassador of the SAPS and of your country, you have to maintain and uphold the discipline which has been instilled in your lifestyle over the past two years. We can never tolerate ill-discipline in our police service. Just as a great deal of authority has been bestowed on you by virtue of your profession, so too has a huge amount of responsibility been placed on your shoulders.
You have the power to arrest and detain, in other words to take a person’s freedom away from them - this is a power never to be taken lightly or abused. You could very well be placed, more than once, in a life or death situation.
The decisions that you take within the space of seconds, could have very far-reaching consequences for yourself, other persons and the organisation. But, you have been more than adequately prepared to shoulder these responsibilities and to make the right decisions.
I want to talk profoundly about the importance of discipline in the police because it is a cornerstone in the career that you have chosen. You can only succeed in your career if you are highly disciplined and with an upright character.
On Tuesday evening we had a farewell function of a stalwart, a member who served this organisation for 44 years with a clean service. This has only been possible because of the discipline the member had. Without discipline you will never achieve anything. It all starts in the mind and then translate into the behaviour.
Remember, your code of conduct which you have just recited states clearly that you undertake to act with integrity and uphold the Constitution at all times and you will never be able to do that unless you are a disciplined cadre of the Police. South Africa needs Police that are loyal, highly disciplined, upright in character, patriotic and willing to serve the country with pride and dignity.
Little misconduct can cost you the rest of your career - always bears that in mind. I like the apostle Paul when he says to the Corinthians - zonke izinto zivumelekile kum kodwa azindilungelanga zonke meaning- everything is there for me to do but they are not all suitable for me. If you can make that your cornerstone in life, you will succeed in your career.
Besides the requirement of discipline, being a good, professional police official involves commitment. After enduring two years of training there is no doubt that you have a calling to serve and a commitment to the people of South Africa.
You will have to work hard at maintaining this high level of commitment because policing requires sacrifices and continuously giving of yourself. But the rewards of knowing that you are a caring protector and that you are the embodiment of a professional law enforcement agent will outweigh all the sacrifices.
Besides discipline and commitment, a good police official must act with respect at all times. Treat others with respect and you will be respected in return. As a police official you are also required to respect authority, to respect rules and regulations and respect your clients.
Most people have their first encounter with a policeman or woman when they visit a police station for assistance or to report a crime. You must have service delivery at your fingertips and you must ensure that every person who enters your client service centre leaves the premises satisfied that they have been assisted and supported efficiently and professionally
This group of police recruits has also received “first responder crowd management training”, the first group to have received this specialised training during their basic training. I am sure that we all appreciate the importance of this course and acknowledge that it will stand the organization and the community in good stead to have police first responders fully trained and capable of dealing with crowd management professionally.
Another important message from General Phiyega to our newly qualified police members is that they should wear their bullet-resistant vests at all times whilst on duty. This is not a luxury, this is not an option – your bullet-proof vest is part of your uniform and you will wear it when performing your duties.
Whilst we demand your discipline, your commitment and your respect, we also value our human resources very highly and as management, we will do all in our power to protect you and keep you as safe as we possibly can. From your side, we require you to wear your vests and constantly be aware of your own safety as well as the safety of your colleagues.
You have been thoroughly prepared to begin your careers and from today you will leave the comfort-zone of this training academy. We urge you to remember every aspect of your curriculum including those subjects which have equipped you with life skills. It is also important for you to ensure that part of your discipline and commitment includes ensuring that you keep up your levels of fitness and look after your health.
Law enforcement duties can be physically and emotionally draining and you must ensure that you take the necessary measures to counteract these challenges. Remember that a whole range of Employee Health and Wellness services are offered within the SAPS and our members are encouraged to make use of these services.
In line with government’s National Development Plan, the SAPS is working towards the vision of 2030 and part of that vision is that all our police officials will be professional individuals working within the ambit of the law and human rights and rendering a quality respectful service to their communities.
On behalf of top management, I wish you all the very best in your careers – go out there and make us proud.
