Unemployed youth in Keetmanshoop have raised their concerns and demanded a halt to the interviews of shortlisted police cadets in the ||Kharas Region.

They claimed that the recruitment shortlisting process is discriminatory and disadvantages the young people of the region.

The youth organised a march to the Police Regional Headquarters in Keetmanshoop, where they handed over a petition expressing their condemnation of the shortlisting process, alleging that it was discriminatory towards the native southerners of the region.

"Our calculation published by the ministry suggests the following: out of 133 males, only 38 bear native surnames; out of 50 females, only 8 bear native surnames; that constitutes 16% of females and 21% of males that are native on that list. Now, out of 183 names on the ||Kharas Region list, only 36 bear native names, and that constitutes 19, 6%, which means 20% are native and the other 80% are not, which is unacceptable. Furthermore, the postal addresses that appear on the list are not from the ||Kharas Region; how was the selection done then?" asked Innocent Matthys, group spokesperson.

The young people are demanding that: "The interviews should be put on hold and should be done in writing to establish a non-discriminatory list of candidates; Inspector General Shikongo and Commissioner Mafuli must come to the ||Kharas Region, Keetmanshoop as the capital of the south upon his arrival from Lusaka, Zambia, on the 3rd of June, and he must explain the criteria they used for shortlisting in which only 19% of people of the region were shortlisted; all candidates currently interviewed must produce their voter's cards as proof of residence."

||Kharas Police Regional Commander, Commissioner Marius Katamila, received the petition.

"Allow me first and foremost to express my gratitude and appreciation for the orderly manner in which this demonstration was conducted. I am herewith receiving this petition and will make work of it. By the end of the business day, it should be on the table with the Inspector General of Police. That will be facilitated expeditiously. I also pledge to come back and give feedback in whatever format I receive it, whether it be in person upon the arrival of the Inspector General or in person."

The protestors expressed their determination to take unspecified action if the police management does not respond to their petition in a timely manner.