This according to the deputy minister of police, Makhotso Sotyu, speaking on the side lines of the Free State SAPS Excellence Awards in Bloemfontein last night. 

She said police were also working on establishing alternative plans on how to deal with mass protests. 

Sotyu added #FeesMustFall protests, however, increasingly include criminal activities such as vandalism and looting, which calls for the police intervention. She said police aim to intervene and control protests without inciting force or police brutality. 

 “As we speak, we are currently training more police office officers on public order policing, to equip them with skills to deal with such cases such as FeesMustFall. We are currently in short of trained police who can work in the public order unit,” said Sotyu.

Sotyu added more than 4 000 police officers are currently in training and police seek to recruit over 1 000 police officials in the next financial year. 

Katleho Morapela/OFM News