Operation Shanela: Public Transport Enforcement Unit (PTEU)

Special Weapons And Tactics (SWAT)

SWAT training forms part of the recruitment process. Candidates are required to pass the SWAT course before they are able to proceed to the interview phase.
SWAT training entails weapons training, house penetration and clearance, physical fitness, approaching traps (via vehicle), etc. This training is essential to prepare the officers to deal with the uncertain and often volatile and unsafe working environment they encounter on a daily basis. This training does not form part of the traffic officer’s diploma course training.
This training was especially useful during the FIFA 2010 Soccer World Cup which was hosted by South Africa. The officers from this Directorate worked closely with the SAPS National Intervention Unit in ensuring a safe environment for the football players, tourists and the citizens of the country.
The National Intervention Unit always calls upon the assistance of the PTEU as they trust the members and also rely on the training that these officers have received to assist them periodically. The PTEU officers assisted in the escort of the KZN 26 gang to Pongola and in the ANC Centenary Celebrations and Flame, etc.
Ongoing SWAT training is critical to ensure that the officers of this Directorate remain fit, competent and efficient.

Legislative Training

Ensuring that the officers are capacitated with the knowledge of the relevant legislation that affect public and freight transport is critical to their function.
Ongoing programs have been held to ensure that officers are kept abreast of developments in the National Land Transport Act (NLTA), KwaZulu-Natal Minibus Taxi Act, National Road Traffic Act (NRTA), etc.

Advanced / Defensive Driving

The PTEU officers use a variety of high performance and 4X4 vehicles. Officers are trained on an ongoing basis to ensure that such vehicles are not negligently damaged or are the cause of accidents. It is important that vehicles are driven in a manner that is safe for the driver and other road users in the event of pursuit.
Officers are trained for high speed pursuit, defensive driving and are equipped with rough terrain driving skills. These skills are most beneficial to officers during escort duties.

Crowd Management/Control

In preparation of the FIFA 2010 World Cup, officers were sent on advanced crowd management training to ensure that they would be an efficient and effective support force to the SAPS should the need arise;

Officers were trained to operate as a cohesive team that could effectively and efficiently control and manage crowds. Officers were also equipped with more aggressive tactics (French Tactics) to assist in crowd control, although only minimal force was used to manage crowd;

Officers were capacitated in the correct utilisation of rubber bullets fired by shotgun, effective ways to use pepper spray, the correct way of using a PR24 (baton), the crowd shield and the different effective formations.