AS part of honouring women during Women’s Month, the Highway Mail chatted with a book-smart sergeant about the challenges women cops contend with in the field.

Sergeant Mbalenhle Mthethwa, who recently graduated with an LLB, was born and raised in Nazareth and joined the Pinetown SAPS in 2020 following a stint as a temporary nurse.

The sergeant is a qualified nurse who decided to enlist as a cop after weighing her options and realising she would still be of service to people as a police officer.

After completing her training at the SAPS academy, Mthethwa found field work physically challenging, especially as a policewoman.

But she would not allow that challenge to keep her potential arrested and so she transferred to desk duties working in the police clearance department.

This, she said, would give her the chance to further her studies.

“I studied law because I wanted to bridge the gap between its enforcement on the street and theory. I also wanted to create more opportunities for myself within the service,” said Mthethwa.

She added that she still plans to continue with her academic pursuits, while looking to rise in the ranks as a police officer.

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Her aim, professionally, is to get into investigative work to ensure that the law is of service to all.

Mthethwa’s word of advice to vulnerable women, some who are victims of gender-based violence, is to seek help from the SAPS whenever the need arises because there are officers thoroughly trained in various disciplines who are there to assist.

“Women should know that the law can work in their favour, so they should come forward whenever they are victimised. I have heard many women who have been victimised say that when they get to a police station they want to be helped by a woman, and I can assure them that there are many capable policewomen, including qualified social workers, who are always ready to help them,” said Mthethwa.

Mthethwa is not only passionate about academics but is also an avid reader who recently was surprised with a collection of books from a former CPF member.

A career highlight for her was when she and a female colleague, during a night shift, arrested five suspects for attempted business robbery at a large retailer in Pinetown about four years ago.

“For me it was a reminder that women can do what men do,” said Mthethwa, who added that they were recognised for the arrest with a certificate by the station commander at the time.

Communications officer Jennifer Naidu said Mthethwa and Sergeant Mdumiseni Mteshane form a dedicated two-member team in the Police Clearance Office at Pinetown SAPS, “an office that is constantly busy”.

“Despite being a two-member team, Sergeant Mthethwa and Sergeant Mteshane continue to work exceptionally well together, consistently going the extra mile to assist the public. Their work may take place behind a desk, but the demand is significant, and they meet it with professionalism, patience and dedication,” said Naidu.

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