THOSE IN UNREST VIDEOS, PHOTOS MUST FORGET - ARMY

MATSANJENI – Be warned!

Members of the public aspiring to join the army have been warned that individuals who were spotted in video footages and still photos during the unrest that took place in June/July last year, will not be among those to be trained at Mbuluzi Army Barracks this year. This was communicated by Tikhuba Police Post Commander Sergeant Thamsanqa Mdlovu, and a senior army official to about 30 aspiring soldiers at Matsanjeni North Inkhundla yesterday, during the recruitment exercise. The 30 are those who had successfully completed the first phase of running a distance of 3.2 kilometres.

Vetting

Mdlovu said the army would not consider those who appeared in CCTV video footages, which would be viewed as part of the vetting process. Worth mentioning is that even those who participated in the countrywide marches and protests, will not be considered for jobs in the army this year. The vetting process will be done after the six aspiring soldiers per inkhundla have passed the recruitment process at their constituencies. Addressing the aspiring soldiers, Mdlovu said those who would be seen in the said videos and still photos captured during the unrest, should know that they would not be part of the final list of recruits to be trained, despite having made it at their respective tinkhundla centres.

Fingerprints

“Let me just advise and warn you that the vetting process will not only focus on taking fingerprints, but also your behaviour at community level. It will be unfortunate if some of you have participated in the unrest and seen toyi-toying, because you will not be considered. If it is found that you have been part of the protests and marches, bear in mind that the army will have to again conduct the routine recruitment exercise at that tinkhundla centres. This is a directive and an order,” he warned. Echoing his sentiments, a senior army officer mentioned that it would be wrong to recruit people who would then turn guns against army officers who were loyal to the current Tinkhundla System. “Let me be straight in this subject as you await your results, the army will not recruit people who are ‘comrades’ who will not abide by the rules governing the operations of the army. We cannot recruit people who are not loyal and respectful to the status quo.

“This has to be made clear,” said the army officer when addressing the aspiring soldiers. Interestingly, during the close to 30-minute wait, a female aspiring soldier, who made the cut among the 30 during the 3.2km race, asked the senior army officers what they were doing to ensure that an equal number of males and females were recruited. In response, the army officer said the army had ensured in past recruitment exercises that the number of females who wanted to join the army was increased to balance the gender of recruited soldiers.
“It is a known fact that for now, we cannot recruit an equal number as males are stronger and it has been the same manner applied that males are made a priority due to their strength. But that has improved as the number of females joining the army has increased,” said the army officer.

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