COLONEL Qaphe Ngubane, now a retired police officer after 39 years of service, faced one of the most challenging periods of her career when she was appointed station commander of Brighton Beach police station in January 2021.

Her tenure began during a tumultuous time as KZN grappled with riots and the Covid-19 pandemic.

Tasked with maintaining law and order, Ngubane had to exercise patience, discipline and strategic decision-making to manage the unrest effectively.

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The violence and destruction that erupted across KZN required careful planning and deployment of police personnel to key locations to prevent further damage.

Being a woman in a senior position brought its own set of challenges, however Ngubane relied on her experience, resilience and self-discipline to lead her team under extreme pressure.

Reflecting on her experience, she credited the difficult circumstances with strengthening her leadership skills and teaching valuable lessons in patience, courage and police wisdom.

Her tenure during the July unrest stands as a testament to her commitment to service and her ability to lead effectively in the face of adversity.

As she hung up her uniform on January 30, she reflected on her past experiences within the police service and how she grew from rank to rank.

She joined the police service at the age of 22, shortly after she completed her matric at Ntee High School.

“After completing matric I went to Hammanskraal College for a six-month police training. In July 1987 I joined the Plessislaer police station in Edendale in Pietermaritzburg where I worked at the charge office as Constable,” said Ngubane.

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In 1990 she got another job at CR Swart Square, which is now called Durban Central police. She grew within the ranks in the police service until she was promoted to Warrant Officer.

She has worked at Ntuzuma police station where she acted as Vispol Commander until 2016. She was also posted in Newcastle where she served three years, being responsible for 11 police stations under the Amajuba Cluster.

In 2020 she got a job at the Point police station during the lockdown period. She was appointed Vispol Commander.

“Being a Vispol Commander meant that I had to act in the absence of the station commander. The lockdown period gave us sleepless nights because we had to ensure that the people adhere to the lockdown rules. In 2021 I was appointed acting station commander for Point police station. Towards the end of November 2021, I got a permanent post to work at Brighton Beach police station,” said Ngubane.

During her tenure in Brighton Beach, she said she was able to work with the new structure of the Community Police Forum as the previous one had to be disbanded.

“We formed the CPF and the Brighton Beach Victim Friendly Unit with the assistance of Chantel Bransgrove-Bower,” she said.

What are some key qualities of the station commander?

• A candidate should be someone who understands the policing ins and outs
• Someone well versed with social crime prevention matters
• Willing to work in partnership with the branch commander, Vispol commander and support commander.

“The station commander should be someone who consistently devises strategies to combat crime. The rapid proliferation of illegal dwellings on The Bluff has contributed to a rise in criminal activity in the area. Many of these settlements are difficult to access due to the way the shacks are tightly clustered, making policing and crime prevention more challenging,” Ngubane added.

Ngubane holds a Diploma in policing and has completed numerous training police courses. According to her it was through these police courses and training that she sharpened her skills.

Growing up in Snathing near KwaDambuza in Pietermaritzburg, Ngubane had always wanted to be a police officer.

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