Key note remarks by the Deputy Minister of Police at the Second SAPS Senior Women in Leadership Seminar and UNISA School of Business Leadership Graduation Ceremony, Paarl, Western Cape
Programme Director,
National Commissioner of Police, Lt Gen Mbekela,
Professor Makhanya and Your Team from UNISA,
Top SAPS Management,
To-be Graduating Officers,
Police Officers,
All SAPS Stakeholders present here,
Ladies and gentlemen,
The Ministry of Police congratulates the Department of Police and its Management for the 47 senior women officers who, 23 of them, will be graduating in Practical Project Management Programme (PPMP) and the rest of the 24, in Safety and Security Executive Development Programme (SSEDP) tomorrow afternoon.
Having lost 55 police officers in the space of six months since January 2015, the latter Safety and Security Executive Development Programme (SSEDP) becomes fundamental.
We have an extra duty to ensure that our women police officers are safeguarded against vicious criminals and abusive relationships. As Government and as Police Leadership, we do recognise the important role that women play in the fight against crime.
Their skills, abilities and talents need to be nurtured, developed, and importantly recognised. We will thus continue to support the South African Police Service (SAPS University in Paarl, and its related projects.
Women police officers endure the struggles and negative challenges, yet through their dedication and commitment, they continue to remain firm rocks, as police officers, mothers, wives, sisters, and aunts.
Initiatives such as the South African Police Service Women’s Network must continue to provide a platform for women’s contribution and participation in changing the lives of both women police officers and civilians, particularly the victims of crimes.
We are hoping that the Women’s Network not only expands its membership; but also impacts on its membership socio-economic welfare.
It must be acknowledged that, the continued oppression of women can as well be worsened by some other women, who use women oppression to climb the social ladder.
Such women use the gender ticket for narrow material and power benefit which has no bearing to the course of SAPS’ Women emancipation.
The South African Police Services (SAPS) Women’s Network must then inspire social cohesion amongst South African Police ServiceSAPS women, that will translate into tangible programmes against gender-based crimes. Women police officers must instill fear in the criminals and not amongst themselves.
The Ministry of Police is confident that the SAPS University will produce exceptional police officers and officials who will make valuable contribution to changing and improving the safety and security of South Africa.
I am quite sure that, in the coming years when we will reflect on future SAPS Women Leaders, some of them will emanate from this University.
The SAPS Women must then be brave and spread their wings to cultivate, maintain, and enhance partnerships with themselves, and within community-based structures.
As we celebrate today’s achievement of the 47 graduating senior women police offucers, let us also remember those 55 heroes and heroines in blue who were unexpectedly taken away from us this year 2015. May their spirit rest in peace.
Programme Director, as I conclude, I would like us to observe founding mothers of the “Women’s Day/Month”, who 59 years ago, bravely marched against oppressive, sexist and racist laws of apartheid regime.
Remembering all those stalwarts who led that revolutionary march for human rights: Lilian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph, Sophia Debreyn and Rahima Moosa, I would like to pay tribute and congratulate the Eastern Cape SAPS Women’s Network and SAPS’ Men for Change who exhibited the same bravery and zeal to fight for the elderly rights.
The event they organised in Queenstown for the SAPS National Women’s Month, was not only visionary, it was also very painful and heartbreaking.
The fact that during this Women’s Month, you took a decision to pay a visit to a 90year old Gogo who was raped by her own grandson; and proceeded other families who included a 54 year old mother who was raped by her own son, it showed an extraordinary duty beyond policing.
We also congratulate the investigating officer from our own SAPS Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) for securing a life sentence for this heinous grandson who raped his own grandmother. You are indeed women of substance.
Kw mele mmangwana otshwana thipa kabohaleng. Malibongwe igama lamaKhosikazi!
Good Luck with your discussions and deliberations. I thank you all.
