Mbabane – Twenty-nine Royal Eswatini Police Service officers completed a six-week Defensive Driving Course this week, in a ceremony held at S and B Restaurant that was attended by senior officials and instructors.
Speaking on behalf of the participants, Constable T. Mtsetfwa thanked the Royal Eswatini Police Service leadership for investing in their professional development and the Road Safety Council for prioritising national road safety. He praised the instructors for their patience, passion and dedication.
Mtsetfwa said defensive driving is more than a skill, it is a mindset. He said the training equipped officers to anticipate danger, stay calm under pressure, and maintain strict discipline at all times. He reminded colleagues that no officer is above the law on the road and pledged that the graduates would work to reduce accidents, protect government property and uphold the reputation of the Service. 
Special thanks were extended to the Commandant of the Police Academy for ensuring participants’ welfare, and to the Chaplaincy Office for providing daily inspiration and support. Mtsetfwa also requested that the National Commissioner consider regular refresher courses for all police drivers to maintain high standards across the Service.
Representing the National Commissioner, Senior Assistant Commissioner and Director of Traffic and Transport Richard Maseko urged the officers to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and safety in every deployment. He stressed that compliance with road traffic signs and regulations is mandatory, adding that any lawful departure from these rules in the line of duty must be done in accordance with Section 53 of the Road Traffic Act of 2007.
Maseko reminded the graduates that police drivers are entrusted with the safety of other road users, their colleagues and passengers, and that safety must always be the top priority when handling the organisation’s most valuable assets, its vehicles.
He said the techniques and principles learned during the course would help reduce crashes involving police vehicles by enabling officers to recognise and manage hazards more effectively, adding that proficiency comes with continued practice. He also stressed the need for thorough pre-trip inspections and for ensuring that all vehicles are roadworthy and clean.
Maseko encouraged the officers to set an example for the public, safeguard police vehicles and avoid using them for personal purposes without their commander’s approval.
