How to become a reservist

Who is a reservist?

A reservist is a person appointed by the National Commissioner as a member of the Reserve Police Service to render services as a volunteer in support of the Police.

Categories of reservists

There will be only two categories:

1. Category 1 Reservist: Functional Policing

Performs general policing functions in sectors at station level as part of the sector deployment or in a unit if a specific operational need exist
Performs duties in the Community Safety Centre
Must wear a uniform (only after having successfully completed training)
Performs duties under the supervision of a permanent member or experienced reservist (a reservist with at least three years’ experience)
Must be trained in the relevant aspects of functional policing

2. Category 2 Reservist: Specialized Operational Support

Must be a person who has particular skills or expertise that can be operationally used by the SAPS
Shall perform specific functions in his or her field of expertise
May, with the approval of his or her commander, wear a uniform
Must be trained in relevant legal aspects, policy and instructions applicable to his or her specific functions

Recruitment for appointment
The recruitment of new reservists must be based on the operational needs and priorities of the SAPS and the need to acquire specialised skills and competencies to ensure that suitable community members are recruited.

Emphasis should be put on recruiting suitable former members of the SAPS. Such members should be encouraged to join as reservists to share their knowledge and experience.

The attention of prospective reservists must be drawn to the fact that their services are voluntary duties, without any remuneration, and that their position as a reservist does not ensure that they will be appointed if they should apply for a permanent position in the SAPS.

What are the requirements for appointment?
A candidate must comply with the following, basic enlistment requirements:

Be a South African citizen by birth
Be at least 25, but under 40 years of age, of which documentary proof must be furnished
Complete a health questionnaire, at his or her own cost, which is confirmed by a registered medical practitioner
Be medically, mentally and physically fit to perform duties
Be of good and sound character
Fit the psychometric profile and must successfully complete any other test that may be determined by the National Commissioner
Be in possession of at least a senior certificate (Grade 12) or must have successfully completed a SAQA accredited NQF level 4 qualification, of which documentary proof must be provided
Be able to speak, read and write at least two official languages, of which one must be English
Allow his or her fingerprints and a DNA sample to be taken
Be prepared to undergo such training as may be determined by the National Commissioner
Be prepared to take the prescribed oath of office
Understand that his or her services may be terminated at the age of 60
Complete an assessment questionnaire
Be vetted or screened
Be employed and provide proof of employment
Provide proof of his or her residential address
Not have a criminal record or any criminal or departmental cases pending against him or her (all criminal or departmental cases must be declared)
Not have a tattoo which will be visible if the person wears a uniform

A person may not be appointed under the following circumstances

If he/she was discharged as being medically unfit by a previous employer
Is a former member of the SAPS whose application for re-enlistment was rejected due to negative considerations
Is a member of the Regular Force of the National Defence Force referred to in section 52 of the Defence Act, 2002 (Act No 42 of 2002)
Holds a key position as determined by the Department of Labour
Holds any post or office in a political party, organisation, movement or body
Is actively involved in politics or who is an outspoken supporter of a political party and who may violate the non-partisan nature of the SAPS
Is a full-time or part-time journalist
Does not have a fixed residential address
Is not in full-time employment
Is a scholar
Is a bouncer or chucker-out
Is a member of a municipal police service (including a local law enforcement officer)
Is a sheriff or deputy sheriff
Is in any manner connected to a brothel, escort agency or any other undertaking which -

remunerates persons to perform sexual acts or striptease dancing, or serve as waiters or waitresses while naked or semi-naked
supplies persons to clients for purposes of allowing such clients to perform sexual acts with such persons
sells, distributes or promotes any form of pornographic material or sexual aid (other than a sexual aid prescribed by a medical practitioner) or
is involved in the taking of or posing for pornographic photographs or the making of pornographic sketches, films, videos or computer- readable material

Is in any manner connected to a business or industry which has contracted with or submitted a tender to the State to render a service or to supply a product to the SAPS
Is in any manner whatsoever involved in —

the private security industry (whether as director, partner or employee)
the taxi industry (this includes but is not limited to, running a taxi service by the person himself or herself, or by employing another person, or the performance of remunerative work for a taxi association, group of taxi owners or operators or for a single taxi owner or operator)
the trade of liquor or the keeping of a tavern or shebeen
the preparation or completion of applications for liquor licences
private investigation services (this includes, but is not limited to, performing tracing work as a tracing agent, money lender, debt collector or financial institution, the performance of private detective work, the interception of communications or the planting of electronic bugging devices)
running a scrapyard (whether as owner or employee)
the microlending services
conducting the business of trading in second-hand goods
the tow-in or breakdown service industry (this includes, but is not limited to, the operation of a tow-in or breakdown service by the person himself or herself or through another person, or the performance of remunerative work for an association of persons or entities running tow-in or breakdown services, a group of persons or entities running tow-in or breakdown services or for a single tow-in or breakdown service owner or operator
the gambling industry
the preparation or completion of applications for firearm licences
the rendering of a security service
insurance investigations and investigations on behalf of agencies handling claims against the Road Accident Fund
serving of court processes, excluding the serving of summonses in civil cases
trading in livestock, excluding such trading as part of bona-fide farming activities
the business of a funeral undertaker

Certain persons, listed below, may be appointed under specific circumstances

A Community Police Forum member while he or she does not serve on a Community Police Board or on the Executive Committee of a Community Police Forum
An official or employee of Transnet, with the written approval of his or her head of department
A member of Correctional Services —

if his or her duties as reservist will not interfere with his or her normal work activities
the interests of the Department of Correctional Services will at all times be served first
may not be called up in terms of Regulation 5 of the Regulations without the permission of the Department of Correctional Services

Public Service Act personnel employed by the SAPS, if they perform their duties as reservists outside their normal working hours
An employee of a municipality, including a member of the emergency services

If his or her duties as reservist will not interfere with his or her normal work activities
the interests of the municipality will at all times be served first
he or she may not be called up in terms of Regulation 5 of the Regulations without the permission of the municipality in question

A reserve member of the National Defence Force —

if his or her duties as a reservist will not interfere with his or her normal work activities
the interests of the National Defence Force will at all times be served first
may not be called up in terms of Regulation 5 of the Regulations without the permission of the National Defence Force

Re-enlistment of reserve members or reservists
A reservist, who served in the Reserve Police Service, may be re-enlisted as a reservist, provided that he or she meets all the requirements and that he or she -

agrees to undergo a refresher course if he or she has been inactive for a period longer than two (2) years
is suitable to serve in the Reserve Police Service (his or her service record and a report from his or her previous commander must be obtained to confirm this)

Uniform and insignia

In terms of the Regulations for the South African Reserve Police Service and National Instruction 3/2014, reservists will be wearing the same uniform as permanent members whilst on duty, but will be clearly identified as reservists through insignia, as is common practice in the South African Police Service in respect of some permanent members attached to specialised units.

Ranks

Reservists will in future be appointed as police reservists without ranks. Existing reservists will however retain their current ranks until resignation or termination of their appointment.

The revised reservist system provided for the appointment of a Head Reservist which creates the necessary structure and authority.

Training and skills development

A reservist must undergo training as determined by the National Commissioner.

A reservist must also receive in-service training to provide him or her with the key competencies and skills to ensure that the reservist is developed in the field to safely and effectively perform his or her duties.

Reservist training will be conducted in the form of distance learning and scheduled contact sessions for practical aspects of the training programme.

Reserve members with experience of recent operational policing, who retired or resigned less than twenty-four months before applying to join as a reservist, may be exempted from attending the basic training programme.

Conditions of enlistment

If a reservist is injured on duty and is medically unfit for duty owing to an illness resulting from duty and, as a consequence suffers a loss of income, he or she may be compensated for loss of salary.

If a reservist is killed on duty or as a result of his or her duty as a reservist, his or her spouse qualifies for the payment of a death grant provided that all the requirements have been met.

If a reservist dies whilst performing his or her duty or as a result of an injury or illness resulting from duty, reasonable costs for a funeral may be paid out of State funds.

Medals and awards

Certificates for meritorious services may be issued to a reservist in recognition of exceptional services rendered.