SASOLBURG – She may be young, but Constable Malearongwa Mokoena is proving that courage, compassion and determination can make a powerful difference in the fight against crimes against women and children.
As South Africa marks Women’s Month, the 28-year-old police investigator is being recognised by the SAPS as one of the women helping to drive its “Women Leading the Reset Agenda” campaign.
Mokoena is attached to the Welkom Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit, where she investigates some of the most difficult and emotionally demanding cases faced by police.
According to Free State police spokesperson Brigadier Thandi Mbambo, the campaign celebrates female officers whose dedication and professionalism are helping to build a more responsive and trusted police service.
“Their work reflects the values at the heart of the SAPS Reset Agenda – ethical leadership, accountability, professionalism and service excellence,” Mbambo said.
For Mokoena, the journey into policing started in 2019 when she joined the SAPS Academy in Graaff-Reinet.
After completing the foundational phase of the Basic Police Development Learning Programme in 2020, she was placed at Phuthaditjhaba Police Station.
Mokoena was the only member of her group selected to join the Welkom FCS Unit.
At first, she was uncertain about working on cases involving sexual offences and crimes against vulnerable people.
She feared becoming too emotionally involved in the traumatic stories of victims.
Instead, she chose to trust her faith and embrace the challenge.
That decision has since seen her play a crucial role in securing justice for victims.
One of her recent successes involved a 34-year-old stepfather who repeatedly raped his minor stepdaughter between 2017 and 2018.
The accused allegedly threatened the child with eviction and warned her not to reveal the abuse.
Despite the threats, the victim eventually broke her silence and reported the abuse to the police.
Mokoena’s painstaking investigation helped build a strong case against the accused.
The Bothaville Regional Court subsequently sentenced the man to life imprisonment on two counts of rape.
The case demonstrated the importance of giving victims the courage and support to speak out.
While pursuing a degree in Police Science, Mokoena continues to encourage victims of sexual offences not to suffer in silence.
“Being an FCS investigator is more than just an investigative job. Through my meticulous investigations, perpetrators are brought to book and victims of sexual offences reclaim their power,” she said.
