POPCRU members to protest against claims of sexual abuse at training facilities

JOHANNESBURG - Members of the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (POPCRU) are heading to some training facilities in protest against allegations of sexual assault.

The union and its members, including shop stewards, are set to start their picket on Wednesday afternoon at the training academy in Hammanskraal, Pretoria, as well as in Moloto, Mpumalanga.

POPCRU secretary in Gauteng, Richard Mamabolo, said they would be handing over a memorandum demanding investigations into all reported sexual abuse cases and implementation of abuse prevention policies.

He added that they are calling for an independent oversight structure to monitor the implementation of measures to prevent these abuses.

"We believe it is critical that everyone who interacts with trainees, whether instructors, support staff or external parties, undergo continuous training on issues of consent, power dynamics, professionalism, and respect for human dignity, particularly across all sexual orientations and gender identities."