Capt Lusha Govender (41), from the local SAPS, is the manager for Sector Four in Brakpan.
Sector policing is an approach to policing whereby the service area of a police station is divided into smaller, manageable areas. Brakpan is divided into four sectors and a rural area.
Lusha lives in Springs with her husband of 17 years, Kevin (42); and daughters Danielle (16) and Gabby (14). The captain has 18 years service with the SAPS, 13 of which have been at the Brakpan Police Station.
• Tell us a little bit about being a sector manager. What does it entail?
One of the greatest responsibilities of a sector manager is to establish a CPF in the area.
Once the mother body is there, sub-forums need to be established so that crime in those areas can be addressed.
Sector Four has a CPF and has four sub-forums.
(Sector Four is made up of Leachville Extensions One, Two and Three; Flamingo Ridge, Dalpark Extensions One, Six, Nine, 11 and 13; Helderwyk and the Carnival City area.)
The sub-forums are in Leachville Extensions Two and Three; and in Dalpark Extensions Six, Nine and 11 (Nine and 11 are combined).
House robberies and hijackings were problematic in these areas before the establishment of the forums, but there’s since been a tremendous decrease.
• What sparked your interest in policing?
I naturally like to help people and have always just had a passion for policing.
It was something that was inside of me.
• What do you like most about your job?
That I’m in the position to help people and give them hope.
When they come here, they’re helpless and hopeless – but with a little direction, they can leave with hope.
• What is your least favourite part of the job?
Attending gruesome crime scenes.
Before you arrive on the scene, your mind is already racing about what to expect.
• Have you ever been shot at?
No, fortunately not.
• What is the worst case you’ve ever had to deal with?
One of the most recent was the murder in Dalpark (Herald, September 9, ‘Prison parolee gunned down‘).
The nature of the crime, the planning that must have gone into it, the execution…it was like a movie.
(The 48-year-old man, who was on day parole from the Boksburg Prison, was killed during a drive-by shooting at an address along Silverbush Crescent, in Dalpark Extension Six. The shooters’ vehicle was abandoned a few streets away and set alight.)
Read: Prison parolee killers may have been cops
• If you weren’t a police officer, what would you be?
A lawyer – right and wrong is in my blood – or a tennis star.
• Would you let your daughters do this job?
I would let them do anything they want to do.
If they say this is what I’m going to do because I like it, then that’s it.
I do feel sorry for my parents though.
• How do you balance being a police officer and a mom?
Over the years as you become acquainted with the job, you learn to detach from the work.
You come back from something horrific and you debrief with your colleagues.
You have to try and leave it at work, because you don’t always want to alarm your family with stories about work.
You eventually learn to deal with it without realising.
• Do you have any hobbies or special interests?
Tennis and action cricket.
As a family, we also spend a lot of time at church and are quite busy with church activities, which includes working with the youth and elderly in the community.
• What are you most afraid of?
Actually nothing.
To me, it seems like your worst fear will come back to haunt you.
We’ve got to hope for the best and prepare for the worst.
• What’s your favourite thing about Brakpan?
Amid all the jokes and negative things people have to say about the town, Brakpan is home to a very caring community.
The people are generous and kind.
