Whether in uniform or a striking dress, inner beauty shines through

Through love and faith, a vision of composure stands in the centre of a fiery cauldron.

As the month dedicated to celebrating women draws to a close, hope is that the unique beauty of every woman has been given its rightful moments to shine. Like a entrancing flower drawing everything around it, so does the greater Roodepoort draw brilliance of every variety. As headstrong as she is approachable, helping to keep the wheels turning smoothly at the Florida Police Station is duty officer, Captain Hemshree Singh.

Originally from the small KwaZulu-Natal town of Estcourt, Captain Singh joined the uniformed ranks in 1999. “I joined in the clerical department but I always wished to be a commissioned officer in the police so I worked hard to achieve that goal. I achieved my dream of being promoted to Captain in December 2017, and now the opportunities are limitless,” said the bubbly Captain.

While she will usually be found in police uniform, her Hindu faith is at the core of her identity, something she regularly expresses through a variety of colourful traditional dresses. “It’s important that we always remember our roots no matter where life takes us. My faith has taught me that nothing is impossible and everything your heart desires is achievable. It has also taught me to have an open mind to life, to embrace diversity and to be unprejudiced,” she said.

Her work environment is notoriously challenging and Captain Singh’s cool demeanour, anchored in an unshakable belief system, is always triumphant. “When you do things from a place of love and integrity nothing can go wrong. I apply this to my daily life and career. It helps me ground myself even when emotions run high. I would not have achieved so much without prayer and faith – not just material things but abundance in all aspects of life. Ask, believe, receive!” the Captain stated.

This path towards a command of body and mind could not have been taken without a guiding hand. “My role model was always and will always be my late mom. My mom inspired me to be a strong independent woman, to be able to deal with any situation that came my way, to never give up or lose faith. She imparted her wisdom to both my sister and myself, and that has inspired me to be a strong role model to my three little nieces. Just knowing that they’re looking up to me pushes me to be the best version of myself,” explained the Allen’s Nek resident.

Women’s Month may be at an end but celebrating the achievements of those that glue together generations of families should not be restricted to 31 days at the end of winter. Cherish the women in your life and take heed of Captain Singh’s advice. “Balance yourself with a strong mind and a soft heart, and you will win every single time. Love yourself, then you will automatically take care of yourself. You cannot pour from an empty cup so make sure you take care of you!”