32 years of loyalty
Article by Insp Gracious Kubayi
Photographs by Insp Theo van Wyk

“There is a time to come and there is a time to go”, this was Assistant Commissioner Magda Prinsloo’s last words as a police officer at her farewell function that was held at the Burgers Park Hotel in Pretoria.

The South African Police Service said goodbye to one of its long-serving and dedicated members. It really was an honour for the SAPS to have an employee like Comm Prinsloo who dedicated her life to serving the public for such a long time. It is true to say that some people joined the service as a calling and they are giving everything in fulfilling that call.

Commissioner Prinsloo joined the SAP in 1973, and went through the transitions that took place in the police. She has served the police and the people of this country with dignity, professionalism and loyalty.

Deputy National Commissioner (Dr) Mala Singh
and Assistant Commissioner Magda Prinsloo.

Divisional Commissioner Magda Stander from Personnel Services outlined most of the important contributions made by Comm Prinsloo, who was the Assistant Commissioner Personnel Services. Among others she has assisted in laying a solid HR foundation for the SAPS. She has drafted the national instruction on leave, worked day and night to develop the forms on the computer as well as the drafting of the manual. She was also involved in the ill health retirement process from the beginning and served on the task team of the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA). Credit goes to Comm Prinsloo for her instrumental role in the process, as the SAPS was one of the departments in which the project was piloted, and cabinet has recently approved that this process be implemented in all public service departments.

Married to Jamie, Comm Prinsloo was blessed with three sons and even with a full life as wife and mother, she built a successful career in the SAPS and will leave a gap that will be hard to fill. The fruits of her work will be ripped by many generations to come.