Captain Gibi of Standerton is comfortable in her own skin
“The birth of my children was the best thing that ever happened to me,” she said.
Capt Gibi Mtshweni of Standerton Police is juggling two important portfolios.
Not only does she occupy the hot seat of communications officer, she is active in visible policing in crowd management as well.
The three-pips-officer completed Grade 12 at Hlathikhulu High School in KwaZulu-Natal before obtaining a national police diploma through Unisa.
Gibi joined the police services in Hammanskraal, Pretoria as a constable in 1986 and has 36 years experience to date.
Her marriage to Lazarus, a school romance, nears its 33rd year.
The couple has three children, all men now, and one grandchild, Burnnel.
“The birth of my children was the best thing that ever happened to me,” she said.
Samkie is an employee of Sasol, Anele is a chartered accountant in Midrand and Kwanele is studying toward a B.Com in logistics management at the University of Johannesburg.
While Lazarus was working at Xtrata Mine in eMalahleni, the former Witbank, she kept the home fires burning.
“I am a superwoman, not so?” she said tongue-in-the-cheek.
The year 2009 found her for four months as commander at the border gate between South Africa and Mozambique, with many trying to cross the border illegally.
“To be a commander is not easy since you meet different people with different characteristics.”
In the end she settled for forming a smallish group to brainstorm their ideas on how to handle the situation.
“Whenever I wanted to implement something, I scheduled a meeting, got the discussion flowing and they bought in to the idea.
“I used to listen carefully to whatever they wanted to contribute.”
Giving them freedom to act responsibly and not micro-managing the team, formed part of her strategy.
She was appointed as captain in 2004.
Although she admitted that a woman in the police force is faced with daunting challenges, job satisfaction came her way.
Communication skills rank high on her agenda as well as working smart.
This woman in blue keeps a fitness regime at home and will walk to town for shopping or business from her office at the station.
“I believe in being sober-minded to keep up with the daily pressures.”
Capt Mtshweni kept on her mask during the interview, took it off for the photo session and laughingly checked her lipstick.
She is of the opinion that the pandemic is not yet over and went for her second booster.
“God promised that He will not forsake us,” this devout Christian concluded.
