KWAZULU-NATAL POLICEWOMAN SCOOPS SAPS PRESTIGE
AWARD
The winner of the SAPS Annual Prestige Awards for Women is Supt Francis
Bantam, Community Service Centre Commander at SAPS Ezakheni in
KwaZulu-Natal. First runner-up is Brenda-Lee Sithole Acting HRM Head:
SAPS Low’s Creek, Mpumalanga and the second runner-up is Joanne du Toit
form SA Narcotics Desk, Organised Crime, Head Office.
The annual
Prestige Awards for Women in the SAPS honour and recognise the
achievements of all women in the SAPS.
Although the activities of the SAPS Women’s Network formed the basis
of the nominations in 2006, it was decided in 2007 to also invite
nominations from women who have exceeded in the operational environment
as well as women who have been commended for extraordinary achievements
across the total SAPS spectrum.
The Prestige Awards:
provide a platform for rewarding all women in the South
African Police Service, (Public Service Act as well as South
African Police Service Act personnel)
recognise and reward outstanding performance in respect
of service delivery and community involvement
institutionalize a culture of proactive improvement of
service delivery among women in the SAPS
support and give effect to the achievement of the
strategic objectives of the SAPS, by women
RESULTS: SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE SERVICE ANNUAL
PRESTIGE AWARDS FOR WOMEN 2007
Winner
SUPERINTENDENT FRANCIS BANTHAM
CSC COMMANDER: SAPS EZAKHENI, KZN
Supt Bantham has made a difference to the lives of many people and is
always prepared to help others. The plight of more than 800 needy
families was improved when they received food parcels, blankets and
clothes during various projects. She collaborated with the Tzu Chi
foundation that donated crutches, wheelchairs and food parcels to people
with disabilities. She assisted colleagues during Project ITC to clear
their credit records and promotes esprit de corps with her “A Hug a Day”
project. She is determined to succeed and has opened a Victim-friendly
facility, which she financed from her own pocket. She mobilised trained
trauma councillors from the community to do volunteer work at the
Victim-friendly facility. She has managed to establish trust between the
SAPS and the community through her dedication to projects presented by
the SAPS Women’s Network. Supt Bantham has empowered women of her
community by visiting factories and giving talks on the Domestic
Violence Act and HIV/AIDS prevention. She also regularly networks with
other government departments and non-governmental organisations to
support crime prevention programmes. Her actions inspire others to look
beyond their personal ambitions and rather do something positive for
other people.
1st Runner-Up
SEGAULI BRENDA-LEE SITHOLE
ACTING HRM HEAD: SAPS LOW’S CREEK, MPUMALANGA
Brenda has registered and implemented a number of projects that had a
positive impact on the improvement of service delivery and the welfare
of the Low’s Creek community. She sustained a vegetable garden project
and mobilised farmers to provide resources to the needy. She
established a female soccer team comprising members of the community and
the police with the aim of discouraging alcohol abuse, getting children
off the streets and help them to become involved in sport. The team
represented Mpumalanga in a Ladies Soccer Tournament and three team
members were nominated for the national squad. Women and children
benefited further from Brenda’s initiatives that included the
establishment of a career centre, library and victim empowerment centre
at SAPS Low’s Creek. Brenda was instrumental in establishing a tea club
as well as cells where awaiting- trial prisoners are kept. The tea club
has funded the appointment of a cook who provides meals to these
prisoners. As an extremely competent administration clerk, Brenda is
entrusted with responsibilities that are usually given to more
senior-ranking members. Through her initiatives relations between the
community and the police have been greatly improved.
2nd Runner-Up
SAC GR 3 JOANNE DU TOIT
SA NARCOTICS DESK, ORGANISED CRIME, HEAD OFFICE
Joanne has launched various internal projects such as Men for Change
at the Detective Service, Women’s Day celebrations and the distribution
of books to various women in the SAPS on her own initiative. The
community also benefited greatly from her commitment as she established
Community Police Forums in Majakaneng and Bokfontein. Through her
perseverance, water was supplied to Bokfontein. Project Save them One by
One provided shelter to homeless children and helped them to stay
drug-free. Some of these children were accommodated in Joannes’s house.
She makes friends for the police wherever she goes and her compassion,
patience and helpfulness have inspired others to also lend a helping
hand. She arranged for detectives to present talks about drug abuse and
sexual abuse at schools. She also visited inmates who did not receive
any visits from families. She took a leading role in the launch of the
Women’s Network at the Detective Service, and in activities around the
16 Days of Activism. Joanne is always helpful and supportive and her
colleagues look up to her.
