Speaking notes delivered by Police Minister General Bheki Cele (MP) at the Women in Law Enforcement Parade hosted in Gqeberha
Good Morning to the President of the Republic of South Africa, His Excellency Mr Cyril Ramaphosa;
The Premier of the Eastern Cape, Mr Oscar Mabuyane;
Greetings to the Co-chairperson of the the JCPS Cluster; Mme Thandi Modise and all Cluster Ministers in attandance.
Deputy Minister of Police, Mr Cassel Mathale;
All protol observed.
Molweni!
Mr. President,
Before you, I present this parade made up of women in law enforcement from various disciplines.
They include female officers attached to some of the most elite units of the South African Police Service, namely;
- The Special Task Force;
- The National Intervention Units (NIU);
- Tactical Response Teams (TRT) commonly referred to as ‘Amabherede’ by our community members.
- Public Order Police (POP)
- SAPS Flying squad
- Guiding the horses on parade are our female members from the Mounted unit of the police service.
- As well as female dog handlers from the K9 unit.
Mr. President, we also have 13 female pilots on parade from the SAPS Air wing.
- Female drone pilots, who are increasing the footprint of the SAPS in the sky, are also on parade.
- Six female members from the SAPS bomb disposal unit are also here.
- On parade are female officers from the Local Criminal Record Center responsible for evidence collection at crime scenes.
Mr. President,
This multi-disciplinary parade also consists of female investigators from the DPCI as officers from Crime Intelligence;
- Female warders responsible for security in the country’s Correctional Services facilities.
- Traffic services officers who enforce compliance of bi-laws and ensure law and order on our roads are also represent today.
- Female Magistrates from the National Prosecution Authority (NPA).
- Officers from the Border Management Authority (BMA) responsible for securing the country’s borders are also here.
As we mark the last day of Women’s Month, I present to you the country’s female law enforcers.
I now call upon the President of the Republic to inspect the parade.
