Police leader recognised for decades of service

As the country celebrates Women’s Month, the TMPD has launched its citywide campaign, ‘Empowered Women, Empower Nations’, shining a spotlight on women who continue to make a difference through their work and leadership.

Among those being recognised is Superintendent Olga Msibi, a career police officer with more than two decades of continuous service at the TMPD.

TMPD spokesperson Colonel Isaac Mahamba said Msibi joined the department on July 1, 2002, and has steadily advanced through operational and supervisory ranks to her current position as Shift Supervisor in the Investigations Directorate.

“She began her policing career as a constable in the Protection Unit at Soshanguve before serving in the Dog Unit and later in Region 3, Sector 2 at Madiba [Street]. Her career progression saw her promoted to sergeant in 2006, inspector in 2009 and superintendent in 2012,” he said.

Mahamba said alongside her practical experience, Msibi has strengthened her professional qualifications, completing a Supervisory Development Programme at Durban University of Technology and a BTech in Road Traffic and Municipal Police Management from Tshwane University of Technology in 2012. She also holds an Advanced Diploma in Management.

He said her career has also been marked by recognition for her contribution to community safety.

Among her early honours was a Department of Community Safety recognition award in 2007, followed by certificates from the Gauteng provincial government.

“In 2009, she received a certificate for outstanding performance in the Central and Pretoria West region. In 2014, her by-law section received a certificate of appreciation for its contribution to the success of the SAPS Pretoria Central Cluster,” added Mahamba.

He said that Msibi was again recognised in 2019 at the Community Safety Awards, where she received the By-law Enforcement Award. She also received a shared Metro Police Department award with the Johannesburg Metro Police. Recently, in 2025, she received a certificate of appreciation from Tshwane Mayor, Dr Nasiphi Moya, for her significant role in planning and organising the successful Urban 20 Summit. Mahamba mentioned that in her current role, Msibi leads and participates in high-impact joint operations aimed at reclaiming city assets, restoring the lawful use of public spaces and improving urban safety. Her team has played a central role in operations including Re A Spana, Tshwane Ya Tima, and Bad Buildings operations, working with the mayor’s office and other stakeholders to enforce by-laws and protect community well-being.

“As Shift Supervisor in the Investigations Directorate, she directs by-law enforcement across the Tshwane metro, overseeing operations focused on protecting public spaces, ensuring compliance with municipal regulations and advancing collaborative safety initiatives,” he said.

Mahamba said beyond her professional achievements, Msibi’s journey has also been defined by personal resilience.

“Diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023 and later with liver cancer, she has continued to balance ongoing health management with the demands of a leadership role,” he added. As a married mother of three, Msibi describes surviving cancer as an experience that has strengthened her outlook on life and resilience.

“Surviving cancer is a testament to endurance and hope. It shows that vulnerability can coexist with strength, and that every step forward, however small, is an extraordinary victory,” she said.

Through sharing her experience, Msibi hopes to inspire other women living in fear and encourage them to believe that serious challenges can be overcome with hope and trust in God. Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to bennittb@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok or WhatsApp Channel