POLICE COLLEGE SHAVES OFF WOMEN'S HAIR

The Police College in Ulundi has shaved off the hair of all female recruits who have started with their basic training. Thereafter they received their training in the sun, but without any hats on their heads.

It was so bad that one recruit had to receive medical treatment after her face had swollen up severely. Initially the recruit had to wait to see a doctor as she was not a member of a medical aid. She only received medical attention after some time.

Her worried father, Mr. Young from Frankfort, attempted to contact the Police Commissioner but neither he nor other senior members of the Police were available as they were attending a party in Soweto.

The parent contacted the Freedom Front Plus and the party's chief spokesperson, Pieter Groenewald, immediately followed up on the issue. It was arranged that the recruit phone her parents immediately and she was in the interim transferred to another training college.

"The practice of shaving off the hair of female recruits who start their Police training should be stopped immediately. It is also humiliating and an infringement on their human rights. I will be requesting the Minister to launch a full investigation and action should be taken against commanders and instructors who enforce this practice. It appears as if the new military approach in the Police is being used as a smokescreen which could lead to malpractices. It is unacceptable and the Minister will have to explain," Mr. Pieter Groenewald, chief spokesperson on Police for the Freedom Front Plus says.

Statement issued by Mr. Pieter Groenewald, FF Plus Spokesperson: Police, February 1 2011

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