A critical analysis of the effectiveness of MPD training in South Africa

Abstract

This study sought to critically explore and analyse the effectiveness (or lack thereof) of the current Military Police Division (MPD) training initiatives or curriculum on the practical workplace skills and experience of the Military Police Officials (MPOs) within the South African National Defence Force (SANDF). The term ‘training effectiveness’ describes the efficacy of training in supporting knowledge transfers, which is a post-training measurement of discernible improvements in knowledge, abilities, and attitudes. The study adopted the mixed-methods research design approach, inspired by its pragmatist philosophical perspective. A three-phased data collection process was applied in order to triangulate the quantitative and qualitative data from the questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. The first phase involved quantitative research instrumentation through questionnaire surveys aimed at assessing the efficacy of the MPD officers’ training in the SANDF. The second phase involved qualitative semi-structured individual interviews aimed at confirming the questionnaire results in respect of the quality and efficacy of the MPD training. A total of 123 participants were involved in the study, 103 of whom were selected for participation in the quantitative phase through the probability systematic sampling strategy. Meanwhile, 20 participants were selected by means of the simple random sampling technique for participation in the qualitative phase through telephonically conducted semi-structured interviews since the study was actually conducted during the COVID-19 era in the country. Various objectives were fulfilled in this study, namely: • To explore and describe the mandate of the MPD; • To determine whether the current MPD training initiatives are sufficiently effective to provide Military Police Officials (MPOs) with the necessary workplace skills; • To explore, describe and analyse international and local best police training practices; • To explore, describe and analyse the current MPD training challenges and needs; and • To develop a conceptual framework of practical guidelines, procedures and recommendations for the Military Police to effectively enhance the MPD training. The findings of this study revealed that a number of challenges exist within the MPD training, including the lack of relevant training resources, unfulfilled learner expectations, misaligned MPD training to the National Qualifications Framework and required workplace skills, as well as inappropriate support structures and mechanisms for realistic on-the-job experiences. Most importantly, the findings enabled the researcher to develop an integrated conceptual training framework for recommendation to the MPD’s training to serve as a guideline for the development of a single curriculum that integrates theoretical knowledge, practical skills, and work experience. This would ensure that the MPOs are fully capacitated prior to their assessment in preparation for their occupational responsibilities. In that regard, MPOs are more closely associated with the practical value of the learning theoretical concepts. Finally, this study contributes to the training value and sustainable solution of the South African National Defence Force, the MPD, and the MPOs.

Dyondzo leyi yi lave ku valanga hi vukheta na ku xopaxopa ku humelela (kumbe ku kayivela) ka migingiriko ya sweswi ya ndzetelo wa xiyenge xa Maphorisa ya Vusocha kumbe kharikhulamu eka vuswikoti byo endla ntirho bya le ntirhweni na ntokoto wa Vaofisiri va Maphorisa ya Vusocha(MPO) eka Vuthu ra Vuhlayiseki ra Afrika Dzonga (SANDF). Theme ra ‘ku humelela ka ndzetelo’ ri hlamusela ku tirha kahle ka ndzetelo eka ku seketela ku hundziseriwa ka vutivi, leswi ku nga mpimo wa le ndzhaku ka ndzetelo wa ku antswisiwa loku vonakaka eka vutivi, vuswikoti na mavonelo. Dyondzo yi tirhisile dezayini ya endlelo ra ndzavisiso wo hlanganisiwa, leri hlohleteriwaka hi vonelo ra filosofi ya pragmatist. Endlelo ra swiyenge swinharhu ro hlengeleta datara ri tirhisiwile ku endlela ku endla matlhelo manharhu ya datara ya nhlayo na ya xiyimo ku suka eka milongoloko ya swivutiso na tiinthavhiyu to vulavurisana. Xiyenge xosungula xi katsa switirhisiwa swa ndzavisiso wa nhlayo hi ku tirhisa ndzavisiso wa swivutiso lowu kongomisiweke eka ku kambela ku tirha kahle ka ndzetelo wa vaofisiri wa Maphorisa ya Vusocha eka SANDF. Xiyenge xavumbirhi xi katsile tiinthavhiyu ta xiyimo xa munhu hi yexe leti kongomisiweke eka ku tiyisisa mivuyelo ya swivutiso hi mayelana na nkoka na ku tirha kahle ka vaofisiri va Xiyenge xa Maphorisa ya Vusocha. Nhlayo yo ringana vatekaxiave va 123 yi nghenelerile, eka dyondzo, lava eka vona 103 va nga hlawuriwa ku tekaxiave eka xiyenge xa nhlayo hi ku tirhisa xitirateji xa sampulu ya nkumbetelo. Loko, vatekaxiave va 20 va hlawuriwile hi ku tirhisa thekiniki ya sampulu yo tlovatlova ku tekaxiave eka xiyenge xa xiyimo hi ku tirhisa tiinthavhiyu to vulavurisana hi tiqinghjo ku sukela loko dyondzo yi endliwa hi nkarhi wa COVID 19 etikweni. Swikongomelo swo hambanahambana swi hetisisiwile eka dyondzo leyi, ku nga: • Ku valanga na ku hlamusela xileriso xa Xiyenge xa Masocha ya Vuphorisa; • Ku kumisisa loko migingiriko ya sweswi ya ndzetelo wa MPD yi ri leyi tirhaka hi ndlela yo ringanela ku nyika vaofisiri va MP vuswikoti lebyi lavekaka bya le ntirhweni; • Ku valanga, hlamusela na ku xopaxopa maendlelo lamanene ya ndzetelo wa maphorisa ya le kaya na matiko ya le handle; na • Ku valanga, hlamusela na ku xopaxopa mitlhontlho ya sweswi ya ndzetelo wa MPD, swilaveko na ku hluvukisa rimba ra mianakanyo. Leswi kumiweke eka dyondzo leyi swi humeserile erivaleni leswaku nhlayo ya mitlhontlho yi kona eka ndzetelo wa Xiyenge xa Maphorisa ya Vusocha, ku katsa ku kayivela ka switirhisiwa leswi faneleke swa ndzetelo, swilangutelo swa mudyondzi leswi nga hetisisiwangiku, ndzetelo wa MPD lowu nga fambelaniku na Rimba ra Tikhwalifikhexini ta Rixaka na vuswikoti bya le ntirhweni lebyi lavekaka, na swivumbeko leswi nga fanelangiku swa nseketelo na endlelo ra ntokoto wa xiviri eka ntirho. Xankoka, leswi kumiweke swi endlile leswaku mulavisisi a kota ku hluvukisa rimba ra ndzetelo wa mianakanyo leyi hlanganisiweke ku bumabumeriwa eka ndzetelo wa Xiyenge xa Vusocha bya Maphorisa ku letela ku hluvukisiwa ka kharikhulamu yin'we leyi hlanganisaka vutivi bya thiyori, vuswikoti byo endla ntirho, na ntokoto wa ntirho. Leswi swi ta tiyisisa leswaku tiMPO ti na vuswikoti byotala ti nga se kamberiwa hi ku lulamisela vutihlamuleri bya tona bya ntirho. Hi ndlela yaleyo, tiMPO ti ta hlangana swinene na nkoka lowu tirhaka wo dyondza tikhonsepe ta thiyori. Xohetelela, dyondzo yi ta nghenisa xiave eka nkoka wa ndzetelo na nhlamulo ya nkarhi woleha eka Vuthu ra Vusirhelelri ra Afrika Dzonga, Xiyenge xa Maphorisa ya Vusocha, na Vaofisiri va Maphorisa ya Vusocha.

Lesifundvolucwaningo sihlose kuhlwaya ngeliso lekuhlaba nekuhlatiya (imphumelelo (nome kubete kwayo) kwemitamo yekucecesha Luphiko Lwetemaphoyisa Lwetemphi (i-MPD) nome ikharikhulamu lemayalena nemakhono laphatsekako asendzaweni yekusebenta kanye naloko Tiphatsimandla Temaphoyisa Etemphi (ema-MPO) lahlangabetana nako ekhatsi eMbutfweni Wavelonkhe waseNingizimu Afrika Wetekuvikela (i-SADF). Leligama lelitsi ‘kucecesha ngemphumelelo’ lichaza kukhipha umphumela lodzingekako wekuceceshwa ekwesekeleni kwendluliselwa lwati, lokusikalo sangemuva kwekuceceshwa setintfutfuko letibonakalako telwati, temakhono netimongcondvo. Lesifundvolucwaningo silandzele tindlela letibhicene tesichamukelo selisu lelucwaningo, legcugcutelwe yindlela yekubuka tintfo ngekwebufilosofi yebuphragmathiki. Inchubo yetigaba letintsatfu yekugcogca idatha isetjentisiwe kute kwehlukanise katsatfu idatha yelizinga nelinani levela kumaphephambuto kanye nakuma-inthaviyu lasakuhleleka. Sigaba sekucala sifake ekhatsi indlela yelucwaningo lwelinani ngekusebentisa luklayo lwemaphephambuto lokuhloswe ngawo kuhlola kukhipha umphumela lodzingekako wekucecshwa kwetiphatsimandla teLuphiko Lwetemaphoyisa Lwetemphi ku-SANDF Sigaba sesibili sifake ekhatsi ema-inthaviyu elizinga lasakuhleleka alowo nalowo lokuhloswe ngawo kucinisekisa imiphumela yemaphephambuto macondzana nelizingasimo nekukhipha umphumela lodzingekako wetiphatsimandla teLuphiko Lwemaphoyisa Etemphi. Linani selilonkhe lebantfu la-123 labebatibandzakanyile kulesifundvolucwaningo, laba-103 babo bakhetfwa kutsi batibandzakanye kusigaba selizinga ngekusebentisa lisibuciko lembonakaliso lohlelekile. Ngaleso sikhatsi, kwakhetfwa labatibandzakanyako lbange-20 ngekutsi kusetjentiswe lisu lelilula lekukobola umbokakaliso kute batibandzakanye esigabeni selizinga nge-ma-inthaviyu lasakuhleleka labanjwe ngekusebentisa lucingo njengaloku lesifundvolucwaningo sentiwa ngesikhatsi se-COVID-19 kulelive. Tinjongo letahlukahlukene tafezekiswa kulesifundvolucwaningo, letibitwa ngekutsi: • Kuhlwaya nekuchaza linguyakwenta leLuphiko Lwemaphoyisa Lwetemphi; • Kuncuma kutsi ngabe lemitamo lekhona yekucecesha iMPD yenele ngekwemphumelelo kunika tikhulu te-MP emakhono ladzingekako asendzaweni yekusebenta; • Kuhlwaya, kuchaza nekuhlatiya tindlela letincono kakhulu tasekhaya netemave emhlaba tekucecesha emaphoyisa; kanye • Nekuhlwaya, kuchaza nekuhlatiya tinsayeya letikhona tekucecesha i-MPD, tidzingo kanye nekusungula luhlakamsebenti. Lokutfolwe ngulesifundvolucwaningo kuvete kutsi kunelinyenti letinsayeya letikhona ekucecesheni Luphiko Lwemaphoyisa Lwetemphi, lokufaka ekhatsi kweswelakala kwemitfombolusito lefanele yekucecesha, tifiso temfundzi letingakafezekiswa, kungahambisa kwekuceceshwa kwe-MPD neLuhlakamsebenti Lwavelonkhe Lweticu Temfundvo kanye nemakhono ladzingekako asemsebentini, kanye netinhlaka tekwesekela letingakafaneli kanye netindlela letiphatsekako letimayelana naloko lokuhlangabetanwa nako emsebentini. Lokubaluleke kakhulu, lokolokutfoliwe kusite umcwaningi kutsi akhone kusungula umcondvo weluhlakamsebenti loluhlanganisiswe kute aluncome ekucecesheni Luphiko Lwetemaphoyisa Lwemphi kute likhombe indlela ekusunguleni ikharikhulamu yinye lehlanganisa lwati lwetiyori, emakhono lentekako kanye naloko lokuhlangabetanwa nako emsebentini. Loku kutawucinisekisa kutsi ema-MPO anikwa ngalokuphelele emakhono ekusebenta ngembikwekutsi ahlolwe ekubalungiseleleni tibopho temsebenti wabo. Ngaleyo ndlela-ke, ema-MPO ayawuhambisana kakhulu nelizingagugu lelentekako lekufundza imicondvo yetetiyori. Kwekugcina, lesifundvolucwaningo sitawufaka ligalelo kulizingagugu lekucecesha kanye nesisombululo lesisimeme seMbutfo Wavelnkhe waseNingizimu Afrika Wetekuvikela, Luphiko Lwemaphoyisa Lwetemphi, kanye neTiphatsimandla Temaphoyisa Etemphi.