Fourteen schoolgirls from Ikageng had an opportunity to learn more about these exciting careers through the lens of experienced SAPS officers during the Take a Girl Child to Work Day campaign last Friday.

According to the SAPS spokesperson, Kelebogile Trom, Cell C initiated the event 15 years ago to expose female learners to male-dominated careers.

The Ikageng SAPS took the learners to the K9 dog unit, the flying squad, the mounted unit and the SAPS air wing.

At the dog unit, Lt-Col Daniel Mopedi took the learners on a tour of the unit and taught them about the different roles that dogs can be trained to perform.

Sgt Benny Mogoshane explained the high-risk situations the flying squad has been involved in and demonstrated how the R5 assault rifle works.

At the air wing, they met Sgt Adri Venter and Capt. Andre Oosthuizen, who discussed all the career options in this unit. Sgt Venter, the only female airborne law enforcement officer and hostage negotiator in the NW SAPS, has been there for eight years. She encouraged the girls to dream big and live those dreams.

The adventure ended at the Mounted Unit Academy, where Sgt Henry Zulu took them on a tour of the horse clinic, their old-age home and their stalls. He also demonstrated how horses obey commands from the trainer. Lastly, each learner had the pleasure of riding on Liandry PAS 809.

Seventeen-year-old Lindiwe Gaselekwe, a Gr. 10 learner from Resolofetse High School found the day very informative and says she wants to join the mounted academy one day. One of the interesting fact she learnt was that accidents can be caused by people shining lasers at passing helicopters. ‘It is an offence and a person might be jailed for this,’ she said.

Rearabetswe Matlhapa, a Gr. 11 learner from B.A Seobi, noted that all these units are male-dominated. She encouraged her female peers to look into the careers in the SAPS for the sake of gender equality.