ONGWEDIVA – Commissioner General of Namibia Correctional Service Raphael Hamunyela has urged candidates who are currently going through the recruits’ assessment to properly prepare before they undergo the assessment. 

Close to 15 000 candidates are participating in the physical assessments at centres across the country, and only 200 candidates will be selected. 

Namibia Correctional Service (NCS) received 33 259 applications.

According to him, the regulation of the procedures in the recruitment process will not change just because some candidates are complaining it is too tough or that it is done under harsh conditions. 

“The similar assessment is also used at the Namibian Defence Force and the police recruitment, and it is the same being used at the Namibia Correctional Service (NCS). Therefore, candidates should stop complaining and put in more effort,” he stressed.

Hamunyela added jobs will be given to those who will make it through their assessment and training.

On Wednesdays, NCS started with its first assessment for prospective recruits.

Those who make it through will participate in an oral interview, followed by a written test that will ultimately determine the 200 successful candidates.

Male candidates are expected to run 2.4km in 7:59 minutes, and female candidates are expected to run on the clock at 8:59 minutes at the same distance. 

Men aged 25 to 35 are expected to run the 2.4km distance under 8:59 and women at 10:59 seconds.

The men’s world 3 000 record is 7:20.67, set by Daniel Komen of Kenya in 1996.

Candidates who spoke to New Era said the assessment is not easy, as the time allocated is short, compared to the distance they are expected to run.

They also complained that they are expected to run alongside a busy gravel road.

Another candidate, who ran the distance in 15 minutes, told New Era the expected times were not reasonable.

“I lost hope already. I know they will not call me to come back for an interview,” she said.

Another candidate from Okongo said he came around 06h00 for his assessment, but he has been in the sun until 16h00 when the assessment started.

Late Sunday, Micheal Mulisa, NCS’s spokesperson, announced they halted written tests and interviews in the ongoing recruitment process of new cadets.  

This is due to administration work that is not yet finalised. 

Most of the sites where the physical fitness tests were conducted were at the time still either busy capturing or verifying data to determine the number of candidates who passed. 

The new dates for the tests and interviews will be communicated.

 The service is looking for 200 recruits.

- fhamalwa@nepc.com.na