Lerato Mailoane
Crime Prevention Warden Holisani Ndou (33) said she is proud to serve her community by becoming the eyes and ears of the police.
Ndou is one of the 3200 Crime Prevention Wardens who graduated at the Giant Stadium in Soshanguve, Tshwane, on Sunday.
Speaking at the sidelines of the pass-out parade, Ndou said after struggling to find employment over the years, her husband showed her an advert in the newspaper.
She said she did not hesitate to apply because she knew this was the opportunity she had been waiting for.
"I didn't hesitate to apply for the warden position, as I have always been active. The physical training we received in Cullinan was excruciating as they would be long hours of endurance running, sprints and agility training and performing endurance exercises, tackling and rolling.
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi said the training of Crime Prevention Wardens was not without glitches.
"We had difficulties finding a venue to accommodate and train them simultaneously. We also had a shortage of other things like catering and challenges of people who did not go through our normal recruitment processes but were planted within our training centres," said Lesufi adding that they had to use departments and various sources of information data.
The drive used the Electoral Commission of South Africa data to determine whether candidates were South Africans and were registered in Gauteng. At the same time, the Department of Education certified their matric qualification. 
"This process had its limitations and challenges, but in the ultimate end, we had to release those we thought were not fit and proper to be part of this force," said Lesufi. 
The premier said others were desperate for employment; they were physically unfit and risked their lives as they could not qualify through our robust training processes.
"The last important element was the verification of criminal records. Those who were found to have criminal records were removed and sent back home. In the process, therefore, we could not have the exact 6000 that we targeted. We remained with almost 4000."
In this regard, a new recruitment process has started to reach the 6000 target. 
Additionally, government procured cars and other tools of trade, such as radios, which the force will utilise. 
"We are excited that we will have no single township, no single informal settlement, no single hostel, not no single ward, that will be left without being attended. We are releasing this force to strengthen the work of the police. We are releasing this force to ensure that our people can start to walk freely, in our parks, in our streets and on their way to work or taxi ranks." 
The force, described as a multiplier to other law enforcement agencies like SAPS, will patrol at ward level for 24 hours using two shifts.
One shift will start at 06:00 and end at 6:00 pm, while the other will begin at 6:00 pm until 06:00 am. 
Mother to one of the graduates, Nyiko Rikhotso, from Daveyton in Ekhurhuleni, could not express her excitement.
"My son Nhlamulo is very young, and I was constantly worried that he will end up with the wrong crowd because he has been unemployed for the past few years. He is also proud to be a change agent in his community," an excited Rikhotso said.