A decade in the SAPS can bring moments of pride, difficult experiences and challenges that extend far beyond the uniform, but for two Brixton police officers, their recent promotions to sergeant represent a major milestone in careers shaped by perseverance and resilience.

Rofhiwa Patience Teffo and Michell Joyce Raduvha were both recently promoted from constable to sergeant, marking a new chapter after 10 years of service.

For Teffo, who has spent nine of those years stationed at Brixton, joining the police was something she always felt drawn to.

“I would say it is a calling,” she said, explaining that she had applied to join the service for three years before eventually being called for training.

Having started her career as a constable straight out of college, Teffo described her promotion as both personal and professional growth. She was particularly pleased by the news because she had not expected the opportunity to come so soon.

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She explained that progression from constable to sergeant can take time, with members often spending years in the same rank before an opportunity arises.

Throughout her journey, her husband has been her biggest source of support, standing by her through repeated applications and the demands of her career.

While her promotion does not change her current office-based responsibilities, Teffo sees it as an opportunity for further growth within the service.

Raduvha, who has served in the SAPS for 10 years and six months, has spent about three years at Brixton. Her decision to join the police was rooted in a longstanding passion for community work.

Before entering the service, she worked at Joburg Child Welfare, loveLife and the Department of Sport and Recreation, where her roles involved working with people and communities.

However, she said the realities of policing brought challenges that went beyond what formal training could prepare members for.

“Every day you deal with different people, different situations, different challenges,” she explained, adding that the emotional and mental demands of the work can be particularly difficult.

Her promotion carries a deeply personal meaning, shaped by experiences that have tested her resilience and given her a renewed appreciation for life.

Raduvha recalled how members from her intake had died or been arrested during the early years of their service, and she also experienced the devastating loss of her fiancé, who was shot and killed during a robbery in their early years in the police service. The two had trained together, and she was three months pregnant with their daughter at the time.

Having also sustained injuries during her career, she described reaching this milestone as a moment of relief and gratitude.

“Being alive, being able to still serve, being grateful to still be there for your family is far more important to me,” she said.

Now a mother to an eight-year-old daughter, Raduvha said being able to continue working, supporting her family and watching her daughter grow makes the achievement particularly meaningful.

Her family has remained an important source of encouragement, especially her father, who also has a history in policing. She hopes her progress is a source of pride for him and her wider family.

Her new position also brings a change in responsibilities. Having previously worked in visible policing, she has moved to supply chain management, where she is learning a different side of station operations and taking on additional responsibilities.

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Beyond their personal achievements, both officers highlighted the importance of stronger relationships between SAPS and the communities they serve.

Teffo identified opportunistic crime as one of the challenges facing the Brixton policing area, particularly in places such as Melville, where people from outside the immediate community frequently visit.

She said the station continued to conduct visibility operations, patrols, vehicle checkpoints and stop-and-search operations, alongside social crime prevention campaigns to alert residents and visitors to potential risks.

She encouraged residents to take these awareness initiatives seriously and work alongside police officers to help prevent crime.

Raduvha echoed the importance of community involvement, saying a lack of unity and communication can make it difficult for police to address crime effectively.

She believes residents need to speak out, share information and support one another, while building constructive relationships with their local police station.

Both officers hope to use their positions to continue contributing to safer communities. Teffo intends to remain committed to crime prevention initiatives, visibility operations and patrols, while Raduvha hopes to encourage newer police members to remain grounded, dedicated and aware of why they chose the profession.

Brixton SAPS spokesperson Jeanette Backhoff said the promoted officers were hardworking, dedicated and suitably qualified for their respective positions.

She added that promotions played an important role in maintaining motivation and morale within the station, while encouraging other members to further their studies and apply for advancement opportunities.

Backhoff said the officers remained committed to serving and protecting the community to the best of their ability.

For aspiring police officers, Teffo’s advice is to remain persistent, even when applications are unsuccessful.

“They must not stop dreaming. They must keep on applying,” she said, encouraging young people not to lose hope if they have to apply more than once.

Raduvha emphasised discipline, humility and dedication, saying those entering the service should understand the responsibility that comes with the uniform.

For both women, the promotions represent more than professional recognition. They are reminders of how far they have come, the people who have supported them and the communities they continue to serve.

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