04 September 2008

By Sipho None

WOMEN’S Month ended with a gala dinner for Mogale City’s women in “brown and blue”, organised by the Office of the Speaker, at the Centenary Hall.

Female prison warders, and traffic and police officers attended the dinner. And, although it was organised by the City’s second highest political office, the evening belonged to the women who took it upon themselves - in spite of adverse conditions - to reduce the level of crime in the city and to make sure that its roads were free of thoughtless and reckless drivers.

Speaker Noluthando Mangole, who was dressed to the nines, told the assembled women of the law that the municipality saw fit to give credit to the women in “brown and blue” for contributing towards a free community.

“It is a great honour to stand before you as we celebrate phenomenal women in the month of August. I must further add that it is appropriate to end this month … and honour our women in brown and blue who have contributed to making Mogale City a community where our people can live, work and travel free from violence and crime,” Mangole said.

The event was put together with the assistance of the Kagiso Safe School Project (KSSP), a youth-friendly organisation formed in 1999 to fight crime, drugs and substance abuse in schools in Mogale City.

In introducing the KSSP chairperson, Stanford Molepolole, Mangole said: “There is a growing awareness that because crime is rooted in our community and our communities at large [it] affects us all. We need to build partnerships to work together to ensure a better life for all our people.”

In response, Molepolole said: “We are very excited about the event and we are looking forward to working with these women in the fight … in our schools. This event signals our appreciation of you for making sure that our community is crime free and our roads are not invaded by inconsiderate drivers.”

More than 60 women from Mogale City’s public safety unit, and Krugersdorp’s correctional services and police service received certificates and trophies. Mangole said these were tokens of appreciation for their efforts and for putting their lives in the line of fire.

“We should encourage events of this nature so we can show our support and that we can demonstrate that we can all be proud of our women in ‘brown and blue’. I believe that together we can fight towards achieving a safe and secure city, region and province for us all.”

South African Police Service Sergeant Thobeka Nkosi was awarded a certificate for successfully obtaining the conviction of the well-known serial killer and rapist, Mongezi Jingxela of Meadowlands in Soweto, to 55 life sentences and 1 092 years imprisonment.

Her colleague, Constable Ntombizakhe Motshwene, received another certificate for successfully putting behind bars another rapist, who was sentenced to life imprisonment plus 20 years.

“It feels good, especially as a woman, to work on a difficult case such as this one, and be able to convict a person to those years. I personally feel great and honoured that as women our efforts are being recognised,” Nkosi said.

Keitumetse Tsotetsi, the administrator of the public safety office, said: “As women we are important people. Without us the companies or organisations that we work at would not be functional.”

Women’s caucus launched

Women urged to work together

Women’s imbizo tackles key issues

Women of the law saluted