Metro job seekers 'conned'

The SA Municipal Workers Union has accused the Johannesburg metro police department of taking desperate job-seekers for a ride.

The union said it was unnecessary for the department to demand that applicants undergo medical tests costing R250 before they were even short-listed for positions.

"They attracted almost 30000 applicants [for 50 jobs] and each one of them had to part with money for a medical examination," said Samwu spokesman Jack Mokalapa.

He said the union had approached the public protector to probe possible corruption in the selection process.

"There is information that the posts were reserved for selected people. The process was just a smoke-screen to make the public believe that the appointments were made in a transparent way."

Mokalapa said taxpayers' money would have been saved had the department hired from the 400 Outsurance pointsmen and women who were of great assistance to the department in controlling traffic.

City of Johannesburg spokesman Nthatisi Modingoane said Samwu's claims were "unfortunate".

"The recruitment process, which was conducted in an open and transparent manner, attracted 28189 applicants. The selection process entailed a medical examination."

He said 50 recruits had been accepted for training.