| 2025/03/08 |
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Thank you Programme Director,
MALIBONGWE IGAMA LAMAKHOSIKAZI FORWARD WITH THE PROGRESSIVE WOMEN AGENDA FORWARD !! Good Morning, Sanibonani I would like to extend warm SAPS greetings this morning on behalf of the women in blue across the country, who continue to stand firm; lifting the flag of the brave women who serve and protect the citizens of this country. Our gathering here today as women in the SAPS, is of utmost importance towards the realisation of the objectives we have set for the advancement of women in law enforcement and SAPS in particular. International Women’s Day (IWD) is a worldwide celebration that honors the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. This important day is celebrated globally on March 8 – IWD shines a light on women’s contributions, pushes for gender equality, and encourages growth and empowerment at all levels. By embracing IWD, we send a clear message that as management we are committed to fostering an environment where every woman feels inspired, supported, and able to grow. We are gathered here for this session today to remember and take stock of the role of women in policing. We take pride in the work of SAPS women in various environments of our organisation. We also remember the women who died in the line of duty and paid the ultimate sacrifice in serving and protecting the people of this country. Today we also honour women who came before us, women who laid the foundation for us to be standing before you this morning. To them we say, salute. Programme Director, today we are honoured by the presence of our Deputy Minister of Police, DM Boshielo. It is an honour and privilege to have you here with us this morning. Your support and inspirational leadership inspire us each and every day to achieve more and become better leaders. A warm welcome to the second in command in our beloved law enforcement organisation, Lt Gen Mosikili. General we appreciate your presence at this session. We value you as a woman and as a leader, so to have you at this session is an honour and we are optimistic about the outcomes of this session owing to your participation. Provincial Commissioners of Northern Cape and Limpopo, Lieutenant General Otola and Lieutenant General Hadebe we welcome you and we appreciate your presence at this session. To all Major Generals, Brigadiers, Senior SAPS members, and all SAPS members present, you are all welcome. Thank you so much for making yourselves available to partake in this important session. Today let us stand on the shoulders of those who represent us well and whose stars shine brightly—SAPS women ambassadors. The likes of Sergeant Nombi Peter from Free State, who walked away with the Ministers award for her sterling and meticulous investigation which has led to a collective of five life terms and 337 years imprisonment for 32 rapists. Brigadier Duduzile Nculu from Eastern Cape also walked away with the Minister’s Award for leading a multi-disciplinary takedown that led to the arrest of 18 people linked to the Lusikisiki mass killings. As a result of her work, seven people are currently in custody. Let us be inspired. In SAPS we don’t compete, we get inspired. DM Boshielo, seeing successful women who advocate for inclusion inspires younger generations to pursue their own goals and challenge the status quo. When women are included, workplaces become fairer and more representative of society. This can lead to a more positive and productive work environment for everyone. Women who inspire inclusion don’t just advocate for themselves, they advocate for others as well. They mentor, support, and empower other women, creating a ripple effect of positive change. Indeed, let us be those women who inspire and champion for inclusivity in the workplace, in that everyone deserves a seat at the table, regardless of gender. Let us be those women who actively work to break down barriers and create spaces where diverse voices are heard and valued. Let’s give true meaning to the concepts of diversity, equity, and inclusion Let me leave you with this….. Every woman’s success should be an inspiration to another. We’re strongest when we cheer each other on.” “Don’t just stand for the success of other women – insist on it.” “As women achieve power, the barriers will fall.” Without further ado, I would like to reiterate that you are all welcome and I cannot stress enough how much we appreciate your presence at this occasion of the celebration of International Women’s Day under the theme Accelerating Action! THANK YOU! |
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