26 September 2024
Sharon Madonsela, who says she has an Honours in Forensic Science and Technology from the University of South Africa, joined unemployed graduates who marched in Tshwane to demand jobs with the Department of Police. Photo: Silver Sibiya
Scores of unemployed graduates demanding jobs in the policing sector marched in Tshwane on Thursday. Wearing their black graduation gowns, they carried their CVs to submit to the human resources manager of the Department of Police and hand over a memorandum of demands.
Sharon Madonsela says she has an Honours in Forensic Science and Technology from UNISA but has been unemployed for two years.
“I apply for all jobs, even cleaning, because I just want employment,” she said. “I don’t even get a learnership or internship.”
“The government doesn’t take us seriously, because there are job shortages in the departments of police and justice.”
Rachel Matatane, 39, travelled 100 kilometres from Vereeniging to Pretoria to join the march. She has recently graduated with a degree in forensics and has a Criminal Justice Higher Certificate from 2021.
“We came with our CVs so we can show them we are serious about getting employment.”
“The reason I chose this degree is that there is a shortage of investigators,” she said.
Edith Hlongwane said, “I passed my criminology degree with distinction in 2021 and then Honours in the same field completed this year.”
But despite being a university graduate, the only employment she has been able to find is as a security officer in the department, her job since 2015.
“I’m earning less than R200,000 per annum. I can’t even afford a decent rental place. I stay in a shack.”
Major General Lenny Govendor, head of human resources accepted the memorandum on behalf of Police National Commissioner Fannie Masemola.
“You will allow us 14 days if you want meaningful feedback to engage other stakeholders,” he said.
Graduates marched in May to the Union Buildings, but they say they did not receive any feedback.