Ekurhuleni officer reflects on career journey after Namibia visit

An ambition sparked by watching Public Order Policing officers on television has taken an Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) officer from the streets of Ekurhuleni to an international platform in Namibia.

Deputy Director Cebisile Ximba recently had the opportunity to join the delegation of women who visited Namibia in August. She joined female law-enforcement officers from South Africa and other African countries for discussions centred on women’s empowerment, leadership, resilience, collaboration and the future of policing.

The trip commemorated the 1956 Women’s March, and Ximba represented the City of Ekurhuleni at the Law Enforcement Women’s Network.

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She described the experience as both beneficial and empowering.

For Ximba, the opportunity was more than simply an international trip.
It reflected a career that began 17 years ago, when she joined the City of Ekurhuleni as a constable.

Born and raised in Thohoyandou, she moved to Gauteng after completing Grade 12 in search of better opportunities.

Her career with the City began in 2009 when she was appointed as a constable after completing the required recruitment process.

She was stationed at the Boksburg precinct, where she performed operational duties and worked shifts.
Two years later, she moved into Public Order Policing (POP), a specialised area she had long admired.

“Even before I became a police official, whenever I saw POP officers on television wearing their protective equipment, I would think, ‘One day, I am going to be one of those officers,’” she said.

Her fascination eventually became a career.

The EMPD’s POP unit deals with crowds, protests and major events across Ekurhuleni.

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Ximba’s role also exposed her to operations outside the metro, where she worked alongside other law-enforcement agencies across Gauteng.

She recalled being deployed to Merafong to assist the South African Police Service (SAPS), as well as supporting events in Johannesburg and Tshwane.

At the time, the Gauteng Law Enforcement Agencies Forum provided a platform for different law-enforcement agencies to work together on joint operations. She was allowed to coordinate some of these operations, including provincial operations targeting counterfeit goods.

She said what made the experience significant was that she was still a constable when she was entrusted with responsibilities at the provincial level.

“I was involved in preparing operational plans, approaching the provincial commissioner for approval and ensuring the necessary processes and signatures were obtained,” explained Ximba. She said the experience showed her that growth opportunities can come at any stage of one’s career.

“It taught me that your rank does not necessarily determine the level of responsibility you can take on.
Sometimes, it is about recognising an opportunity, being willing to learn and showing that you are capable,” she said.

Rising through the ranks
Her career continued to progress.

In 2019, she was appointed as a superintendent and became a commander within the Public Order Policing Unit.

The promotion meant moving from performing operational duties on the ground to leading and commanding officers during operations. She later progressed to chief superintendent before becoming Deputy Director: Inspectorate.

In her current role, she focuses on discipline within the organisation.

She is responsible for ensuring that officers adhere to standing orders and City policies, conduct themselves professionally and comply with prescribed uniform requirements.

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Ximba said discipline is fundamental to effective law enforcement.

“It is all about discipline and ensuring that officers understand the responsibility that comes with being a law-enforcement official,” she said.

She is currently deployed in the office of the Deputy Chief of Police: Operations and Specialised Services.

Lessons from Namibia

She said her trip to Namibia formed part of activities commemorating the women of 1956 during Women’s Month.

She was the only EMPD representative who joined the SAPS delegation for the seven-day visit, which included engagements with Namibian police officials and visits to police facilities.

One lesson she brought home was the importance of learning from how other law-enforcement agencies structure their operations.

She was particularly interested in Namibia’s approach to by-law enforcement, where a dedicated team deals with hawkers and people selling goods on the streets.

“The officers conduct daily checks to determine whether traders are complying with applicable by-laws. The delegation got an opportunity to observe the processes followed when suspects are brought into a police station,” shares Ximba.

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She said the condition of the police station she visited also left a lasting impression.

“The police station in Namibia looked like a hotel. It was so beautiful and clean. The cells, the kitchen and the offices were just perfect,” she said.

Beyond policing, she was struck by the country’s cleanliness.

She said the absence of litter and the general cleanliness of public spaces made her reflect on what could be done to improve the environment in South African cities. For her, cleanliness and safety are closely linked to a city’s attractiveness.

“We need to look at how we maintain our environment because a clean, safe and well-managed city can contribute to attracting investors,” she said.

‘Women, you are powerful’

One message that stayed with her from the conference came from a senior Namibian police commissioner.

She said the commissioner told women: “You are powerful. You are strong.”

Ximba said those words resonated with her and reinforced her belief in the importance of women recognising their own potential.

“I came back with the message that there is nothing that I can place my mind in and not do, because I am powerful and I am strong,” she said.

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She encouraged female officers to take advantage of opportunities presented to them, particularly opportunities for education and professional development.

Her own career, she said, shows what can happen when such opportunities are embraced.

“When I joined the City of Ekurhuleni, I had a matric and a computer certificate,” she said.

Through City opportunities and bursaries, she obtained her first diploma and later furthered her academic qualifications.

She has since obtained a BA Honours in Police Science and continues to study.

Her message to women in law enforcement is simple: keep learning.

“Ladies, let us take the opportunities that are available to us and continue developing ourselves,” she said.

Breaking down the silos Another key lesson from her experience has been the importance of cooperation between law-enforcement agencies.

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Ximba believes agencies cannot afford to work in isolation when dealing with crime and public safety.

She pointed to the City’s memorandum of understanding and cooperative agreement with the Ministry of Police as an example of the importance of collaboration between different law-enforcement structures.

She said agencies should be able to call on one another for support when they need resources and workforce.

For female officers in particular, she believes working with colleagues from different agencies provides an opportunity to learn new approaches and broaden their experience.

“Let’s not just limit ourselves within the City and refuse to go and work outside of Ekurhuleni because you will learn more,” she said.

For Ximba, integration is not only about strengthening law-enforcement operations.

It is also about building relationships and creating opportunities for officers to learn from one another.

From a young woman who dreamed of becoming a POP officer while watching them on television to a constable entrusted with provincial operations and now a Deputy Director, her journey has been shaped by opportunity, education and a willingness to take on new challenges.

Her experience in Namibia has added another chapter to that journey and reinforced her belief that women in law enforcement should keep learning, collaborating, leading, and using every opportunity available to them.

“We should continue studying, developing ourselves, taking opportunities and supporting one another,” she said.