The South African Police Service (SAPS) joined the rest of the world in observing International Women’s Day 2022 (IWD). Celebrations were held in Gauteng on Tuesday, 08 March 2022, under the theme “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow” #BreaktheBias.
Female officers from various policing disciplines gathered to critically reflect on the advancement of gender equality in a male dominated environment, their achievements as women officers as well as the role of women in policing.
The day’s activities were led by the Women’s Network Patron, Lieutenant General Franscinah Vuma. The Women’s Network is a structure in the South African Police Service which is responsible for championing the rights of the most vulnerable groups in society and are also responsible for ensuring female emancipation is realised.
On the day, the structure also celebrated its achievements and took stock of its community based projects. The extraordinary acts of these women in blue and their efforts in making this country a better place to live in, were among the feats that were highlighted.
During his address, the National Commissioner encouraged women officers to do more for victims of crime.
“Today is a celebration of inroads and progress made to empower women in the SAPS. I am proud to announce that South Africa is leading in terms of gender equality in the SADC region. However, let me urge you all to continue to render a selfless patriotic service to South Africans. This country needs women of your calibre to assist victims of crime and bolster crime fighting initiatives”, said General Sitole.
The SAPS continues to make significant strides on gender transformation since the dawn of democracy. From 1% in 2000 to 38, 9 % in 2022, the number of females that occupy senior management positions has exponentially increased. Of the three Deputy National Commissioners, two are female. The current Deputy National Head for the HAWKS position is also held by a female. Seven out of eleven Divisional Commissioners are female and four out of the nine Provincial Commissioners are also women.
Female officers also occupy senior positions at grass roots level of policing such as at police stations, at district level and in the various specialized units.
Furthermore, the multi-disciplinary National Task Team established to prevent and combat aggravated robberies, particularly Cash-In-Transit (CIT) heists, is led by a female commander.
Through the implementation of the five-year Women Empowerment Agenda Plan (2019-2024), the SAPS has to date reached significant milestones including the preservation of 40% of all training initiatives for women to ensure their upward mobility and ascension to middle and senior management positions.
It is worth also noting that under the guidance of the organization’s first female Chief Financial Officer (CFO) who was appointed into the position in 2018, the SAPS registered an improvement in its audit findings where it moved from a qualified to an unqualified report for the first time in five years.
