New station commander for Ladysmith

Described as a daughter of the ‘soil’, Brigadier ZO Kunene is the newly-appointed station commander of Ladysmith SAPS.

Brigadier Kunene hails from the Wasbank area. She completed her schooling at Sgweje High School and took the opportunity to seek employment in the Gauteng area. She was successful in being recruited in the year 1988 at Kliptown SAPS in Soweto and completed her basic training at the Hammanskraal police academy.
The new constable was then stationed at Kliptown SAPS, where she spent the next two years.

Her dedication resulted in her being promoted to the rank of sergeant, as well as a post at the Criminal Investigation Department (known as the Detective Service). Her zeal to be closer to home encouraged her to apply for a post in Vryheid, also at the detective services. She spent the following two years there.

While there, she was promoted to the rank of warrant officer and was called upon to join an intervention team that was set up to investigate the political violence that was plaguing the Nongoma area at the time.

The team was accountable to the National Commissioner of Police.
Her next appointment was a promotional post, this time as a commissioned officer and as Detective Branch Commander at Mondlo SAPS. The post came with tough challenges. but she overcame them and spent the following two years in the post. She sought further development in a specialised field and joined the Commercial Crimes Unit based in Durban, where she spent four years.

The post involved high-level fraud investigation, which centred on social grants as well as other high-profile investigations. She eventually became head of a 15-member team of investigators. The post has been described as “very exciting and interesting”.
During 2006, she took over the reins at Umshali SAPS. As Station Commander, she held the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. She was soon promoted to the rank of Colonel. Having the necessary knowledge and experience that comes from rising up the ranks in the uniformed service, as well as specialised fields, she set to work and established a Community Policing Forum structure, as well as a Business Against Crime partnership. She enjoyed the post, as well as the challenges that came with it, very much.
In 2010, she took up a lateral post as the Howick Cluster commander. She had five stations to account for, namely Howick SAPS, Boston SAPS, Impendle SAPS, Mpophomeni SAPS and Nottingham Road SAPS. A particular challenge at the time was the ’26’ and ’28’ gangs that were operating in the area.

They were ruthless and enjoyed committing violent crimes.

There was also an increase in truck hijacking cases on the N3.

Operations were set up using the available resources at her disposal. Through arrests and convictions, the gangs were totally eliminated and hijackings on the N3 were drastically reduced. The support from various political parties, the KZN Community Liaison office, the local mayor, councillors and the community at large was overwhelming and assisted in accomplishing success in the area.
The new Ladysmith Station Commander takes this opportunity to acknowledge the welcome and support from the Ladysmith Cluster Commander, Brigadier JCA Marais. She is elated to be in Ladysmith and to be given the opportunity to ‘plough’ back into the community.

She calls upon the Ladysmith community to support her in the fight against crime. “The reporting of crime and criminal activities is the responsibility of the community, and the use of the Community Policing Forum and other mechanisms are of utmost importance,” explained Brigadier Kunene.
The commander is in the process of completing her Masters in Policing, and assures the community that she has a good understanding of policing and that she will impart her knowledge to her subordinates.

She believes that Ladysmith SAPS possesses committed members and that systems are in place to assure the reduction of crime. Managers and ‘foot soldiers’ will be motivated to produce better results.
Brigadier Kunene can be consulted at Ladysmith SAPS in Room 219 or on 036-638-3362 / 082-567-4180.