SANDF STUDENT PROGRAMME STOPPED

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.
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