By: Khetho Dlamini

The South African National Defence Force Army has discontinued the University Reserve

Training Programme (URTP) due to students having other commitments.

It is alleged that members do not finish the programme because of other commitments that

they find themselves obligated to attend which includes work integrated learning.

The programme allowed university students to train with the SANDF during the university

holidays.

The SANDF recruited members from universities across the country.

More than 100 students were called to do their psychometric and medical tests at the SANDF

Durban Regiment in June 2014. Successful applicants from all parts of KwaZulu-Natal

travelled to Durban for the tests.

Lungile Mhlongo who was also a member said, “I am highly disappointed because I spent so

much money to come to Durban for the tests and the least the SANDF could do was just to

inform us early that the programme has been discontinued.”

The defence force said it was unfortunate that the programme was terminated.

“Training members comes at the government’s expense. The URTP is not working out due to

members being employed elsewhere which results in them not training and finishing the

programme. We are sad to terminate this initiative but it is for the best,” expressed Lieutenant

Colonel Mzolo Molefe of the Defence Reserve.

“We have seen to it that we enforce more training of the Young Lions because they are high

school students who are free during the holidays and by the time they finish high school, they

would have been done with their 3 years training program,” he added.