About 300 police reservists handed over a memorandum of grievances to the Presidency in Pretoria on Wednesday.
The two-page memorandum called for the ”immediate and unconditional” integration of 8 000 reservists into the South African Police Service (SAPS). It also called for the remuneration of reservists as well as benefits due to full-time police officers.
The memorandum, which is supported by the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru), was handed over at the Union Buildings shortly before 1pm.
”Popcru is supporting you. We have seen you working and risking your lives,” said Popcru Gauteng deputy chairperson Doctor Tema.
Addressing the marchers at the Union Buildings, Tema said that he was ”surprised to see only black reservists and no white reservists”.
”They too are also suffering,” said Tema.
He added that the pair of boots and pants that reservists received was not enough.
”Why are they not being employed?” he asked, drawing a cheer from the crowd.
Earlier on Wednesday, chairperson of the protesters Michael Mabuza said the reservists had not been paid since November 2007.
This followed the implementation of the reservists’ budget that had been introduced in 2006.
A 42-year-old female reservist, who did not want not be named, said she had been working as a reservist since 2001.
”I have not been placed as a permanent member of the SAPS. I have children, a qualification and a driver’s licence. I want employment,” she said. — Sapa