Being a victim of sexual abuse herself, Sergeant Palesa Tsoaelo of the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offence Unit (FCS) found her calling in life.
This shows in Tsoaelo’s work as she was named the FCS employee of the year in the Gert Sibande District at the Excellence Award 2022/2023.
The awards ceremony was held on November 16 in Ermelo this year and Tsoaelo walked away with this award last year as well.
She will now compete for the provincial award of which the ceremony is taking place in Middelburg this week.
“Since I was young, I always wanted to work for the police,” said Tsoaelo, whose career in the police began in Bisho where she attended the police college for six months.
After completing her training, she worked in the charge office in Greylingstad for four years before she traded this town for Leslie. In Leandra, she quickly moved from the charge office to the investigating unit before joining the FCS unit of the SAPS.
Tsoaelo said her highlight of the year is when one of the perpetrators she arrested, Pule Mlangeni, received five times life sentences for five cases of rape against him.
“It feels good every time I arrest a perpetrator. I know we cannot reach everyone, but in the cases we do get, I try to give my best,” said Tsoaelo.
Tsoaelo has two sons aged 25 and 12. She enjoys spending time with them, playing netball and reading.
