Lucky of the draw
Col Njomboni has already started various community initiatives and has also met with the local CPF so they can work together.
MALVERN SAPS has marched into 2023 with a new leader at the helm after the appointment of Colonel Lucky Njomboni as the new station commander.
As luck would have it, he was appointed on his birthday on December 12. “It came as a big surprise because at the time, I was acting station commander at Folweni SAPS,” he said.
Col Njomboni was born in Kokstad, but his family relocated to Ixopo after his father died in 1981. “I attended primary schools in Kokstad, then completed my studies at Mqakama High School in St Faith, where my mother was born.” While his family is still located in Ixopo, the colonel is living temporarily in Umlazi to be closer to work. He married Isabella in 2002, and they have been blessed with two daughters, a son and four grandchildren. He says his hobby is gardening.
ALSO READ: JUST IN: Two men shot at a coffee shop in Malvern
“I’m so blessed to be supported by my loving family – without their support I wouldn’t be here.”
While employed at Umzimkhulu Hospital, he yearned to be a police officer. “I resigned from the hospital in 1990 and joined SAPS the same year. In 1992, I was recruited at Ixopo and underwent my training at Oudtshoorn Police Academy in the Western Cape.”
After successfully completing his training, Col Njomboni returned to Ixopo SAPS, where he started as a constable and was promoted to warrant officer. Over the years, he has worked in different areas. He was a young, brave and dedicated police officer, performing crime-prevention duties and then a court orderly. From 2000 to 2006, he was appointed as a crime-information analysis-centre manager. In 2007, he was promoted to the rank of captain at Hillcrest SAPS, as Management Information Centre (MIC) commander.
In 2012, he rose to the rank of major at Umlazi SAPS, as MIC commander. Three years later, he was appointed as Vispol support commander and acting Vispol commander at Umlazi SAPS.
“Since I have a passion for the information communication of technology, I went back to my component – MIC – in 2016. I also worked under the command of Major General Chiliza at eThekwini Outer South Cluster as MIC commander.”
ALSO READ: SAPS host a mental health awareness day
In 2016, when SAPS underwent rank restructuring, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. “Last year, I was appointed as acting station commander at Folweni SAPS. Then, towards the end of 2022, I received the best birthday gift possible.
“At Malvern SAPS, I’ve observed that members are disciplined and dedicated to their work. I have already started various community initiatives and met with Malvern CPF chairman Kevin Pillay, who promised to work together with us all the way.
“The Malvern community works together with the police, and the community-in-blue concept operates well in the area. I was pleased to be welcomed by members and the community at large. I believe I will be a good station commander because I don’t use an autocratic style of leadership. My plans are to ensure that the community lives in harmony and perpetrators are brought to justice. I want to ensure the community always feels safe and police officers serving under my command enjoy being at work.”
For more from the Highway Mail, follow us on Facebook or Twitter or Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok.
