It was heart-breaking for many of the desperate job seekers who tried unsuccessfully to get accepted by the SA Navy for training as divers.
Some even had to be pulled out of the swimming pool in Mbombela when they got into difficulties in the water.
It has been the same story around the country as the navy instructors have had to fail scores of would-be recruits.
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Selection
While it is sad for the people who tried and failed to pass the selection, it is also correct that the navy is not prepared to compromise the high standards it sets for recruits in that speciality.
Navy divers are required to perform any number of tasks, from rescues to repairs to underwater demolitions.
It is a job which requires high level of physical fitness as well as an above-average understanding of mathematical concepts.
Some of the applicants were turned away because they only had mathematical literacy at matric level. But what is distressing is that so many of those who tried out could not swim at all, or were poor swimmers.
That is because swimming is not prioritised at schools in rural and poor areas. Youngsters are being excluded from opportunities because of this – which is wrong.
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