Phala talks the talk and walks the walk

POLOKWANE – With more than 15 years experience to his name, Phala can be deemed a natural at what he does. Starting off his law enforcement career as a security officer and with a passion for the police force since his youth, he decided to enrol in the service and has held the title of captain for the past 13 years.

He is the kind of person who believes there is only one way to do something in life and that is the right way.

Although he doesn’t have formal training in communications, he says he has gained a treasure trove of valuable experience over the years. His main responsibility is being the conduit that relays information between the police and media houses, however, he still does his fair share of paperwork.

Phala was a detective during his time in the service which equipped him with valuable skills and know-how on how to investigate and get to the bottom of things. He is actively involved in crime prevention and is part of a specialised unit within the police force.

He also served as a court orderly in his time. “All my experience gives me the ability to be a well-equipped communications officer. For instance, it gives me the ability to give accurate information to the media in cases where they want to know how a docket works or what courtroom procedure is,” he explains.

He says the real test for a communicator lies not in telling people what happened at a crime scene, but constantly informing people about issues and answering the public’s pertinent questions. Even more so if damning information comes to light in an investigation, it is Phala’s job to give concise information to the right stakeholders at the right time.

“I am no stranger to talking to the media and I have been in newspapers and on television numerous times. For me, it is all about serving the community, even if I am just sitting in an office compiling press statements. Officials should serve the people and not seek personal gain when they are in a position of power,” Phala adds.

He says what makes being a police communications officer different from communication officers in other government departments is that there is just one provincial spokesperson for each department whereas there are spokespeople for every police station as well as a provincial police spokesperson.

“Unfortunately, this sometimes causes dissatisfaction with the public when the spokesperson for a specific police station cannot give comment about a matter and they then have to be referred to the provincial or even national police spokesperson. It all depends on the circumstances surounding the incident and there are set categories to determine if the public or the media’s questions can be answered by me or if they should be referred to another spokesperson.”

Despite his busy schedule, he is a man who always makes time for his family as he says family is one of the most important things in life. He explains that having a successful family life leads to success in other areas.

He is a big soccer fan and watches the sport whenever he gets the chance. He says it serves the important function of giving his mind a break from the daily stress and worries associated with his line of work.

Phala wants to put the misconception some people have about the police to rest by assuring residents they can always rely on the police, no matter what.

“Although there may be some rotten apples, the majority of our police officers and officials’ aim is to uphold the law and make the people of Limpopo and the city feel safe. However, they cannot do this alone, they need the help of the community to make the city crime free.”

Phala calls on police officers to wear the uniform with pride and always remember that they are there to serve and protect the people.

He urges boys and girls who want to join the police force to realise they will be serving their country and to ensure they keep away from criminal activity and substance abuse from an early age.

riana@nmgroup.co.za