Career stagnation end in tears
"I am overwhelmed with joy and gratitude. I thank God for opening doors for me because I refused to give up," said the happy police woman.

VANDERBIJLPARK. – She had always aspired to be a police officer since her high school days, with the intention of enforcing the law and keeping South Africa free from crime.
However, her dreams were shattered when she found herself stuck in one position without promotion, despite being qualified for higher ranks and having served for decades.
Captain Annah Ramono’s attempts to ascend the corporate ladder were consistently hindered by limited opportunities.
This led her to engage in a battle with the state through unions.
When this avenue proved unsuccessful, she resorted to hiring a private attorney to fight for what she believed she deserved.
Now, Ramono’s sorrows have transformed into tears of joy as she has officially been awarded the position of Captain, after 23 years of full service.
The dedicated woman in blue shared her story after receiving an award during the Vanderbijlpark police station excellence ceremony last week.
Speaking to Ster South, Ramono expressed her elation and recounted the details of her arduous journey, serving diligently despite facing demoralizing circumstances.
“I’ve been stationed in Vanderbijlpark for the past three years after spending 23 years as a police officer. I began my career at Evaton SAPS in 2003, then moved to SAPS 13 [Vehicle Crime Investigation Unit], and finally to Vanderbijlpark in 2019,” she explained.
Ramono emphasised that her career in the force had been relatively smooth until she applied for a promotion, which marked the beginning of her struggles.
“In 2014, external posts were advertised. According to SAPS regulations, qualifying officers could apply for these positions. I applied that year, but when the results were released the following year, my name was absent from the list of successful candidates. In 2017, I applied for a forensics post, and although my service number appeared on the provisional approval list, the name listed was not mine. I sought advice and was informed that, in SAPS, only the service number matters,” she recounted.
“Upon submitting the required forms, I was informed that the promotion linked to my service number was an error. It was disheartening to continually be overlooked despite holding a BTech qualification in Policing,” Ramono lamented.
Unable to find resolution within the state system, Ramono persisted in her pursuit of justice.
“I lodged a grievance with our union, which was initially disregarded until we escalated the matter to the Safety and Security Sectoral Bargaining Council (SSSBC). Finally, in 2020, I engaged a private advocate, and after several meetings, my award stipulated that my position should be implemented by July 31. It took my lawyer’s intervention to ensure the enforcement of my award, but finally, justice prevailed,” she declared.
With her ordeal behind her, Ramono now revels in her success, proudly displaying her medals and stars on her epaulets. “I fought for my rightful position because I believed the SAPS was unjust in its treatment of me. People fight for what they deserve, and I am overwhelmed with joy and gratitude. I thank God for opening doors for me because I refused to give up,” she concluded.