Umhlali SAPS warrant officer Shaleen Ramlakan is a woman of force

Anyone who has had the pleasure of meeting Umhlali SAPS super cop, warrant officer Shaleen Ramlakan, knows that she is a force to be reckoned with, driven by the values to serve, honour and protect.

Last week the 51-year-old officer, known for her no-nonsense approach to crime, celebrated her 28th year in the force.

Working side-by-side captain Vinny Pillay, the mother and grandmother said she had dedicated her life to fighting crime when she was 23 and had not looked back.

“I joined Umhlali SAPS in 1990 as an office clerk but sitting behind a desk was not for me. I needed to be out there and I wanted to be a part of the action. I then decided to further my studies and I obtained my national diploma in policing and BTech degree.

“I then underwent police training before I started working shifts and making arrests. Back then the training was intense and there was no such thing as you cannot do certain things because you were a woman. We had to run, perform push ups and pull-ups and the worst was when we had to carry heavy sandbags across a field within a time limit.

“This was to prepare us for the event of our partner being shot or injured, so the bags would weigh as much as a fully-grown man. The second part of the training was theory and that focused on the different Acts.”

Also read: Umhlali cop dubbed SA’s first Integrity Idol

Soon after her training, the sassy officer was transferred to the old Durban airport and then to Durban harbour where she gained her warrant officer rank.

Desperately in need of more community involvement, the Shakakraal resident requested to be transferred back to Umhlali where she hoped to make a difference in the area she grew up in.

For a woman, working shifts and patrolling was dangerous and often saw her attend volatile situations without backup.

“My main challenge was the cultural barrier because despite being an officer of the law some people, especially men, refused to take instructions from a woman. I remember one particular incident where I received a call about a murder in Upper Tongaat. I rushed to the scene only to find that the community planned to take action against the suspect.

“The men refused to listen to me and they told me to leave as soon as possible because they planned to capsize my van.

“I learned then that the only way to get respect is to become known in the community for helping others in their time of need. In this way, residents work with you to catch a criminal and not against you.”

Attending protests, murders and apprehending criminals suspected of committing heinous crimes, Ramlakan once held the record at Umhlali station for the most arrests.

Despite her reputation for being tough on the streets, she is a single mother who balances a home and a career.

“Sometimes you can start a shift at 4am and end it at midnight. Although I wore the pants when I was on the road, when I got home I was a mother who did my best to take care of my child. Thankfully I had the support of my parents.”

While gruesome scenes and violence became routine for the SAPS officer, she said the worst scene in her career was that of a child who had drowned.

“The child had thrown her toys into the pool and jumped in to get them but by the time her mother noticed, it was too late. That broke my heart.”

Ramlakan now focuses on community safety and awareness where she spends most of her time educating the public on the seriousness of crime.

“I have taken a softer approach and spend a lot of time at schools and community rallies. People trust me and I am proud that when I took my oath to serve, honour and protect 28 years ago, I kept it.”

Do you want to receive news alerts via WhatsApp? Send us a WhatsApp message (not an sms) with your name and surname to 061 718 4438.

Please read our WhatsApp broadcast list disclaimer.
Join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram