| A police sergeant conferred with a doctorate degree in gender studies at University of Venda | |
|---|---|
| Date Published | |
| 2025/09/10 | |
| Details | |
Media Statement POLOKWANE - A 47-year-old police Sergeant has been conferred with a Doctor of Philosophy Degree (PhD) in Gender Studies during a glamorous graduation ceremony hosted on Friday, 05 September 2025 at the University of Venda. Dr Emmely Rendani Mutwanamba was born and raised in a rural village called Mulenzhe, (Piet Booi) under Collins Chabane Local Municipality. She commenced her schooling in 1984 in Mulenzhe Primary School until 1990 and proceeded to Movhe Secondary School and matriculated with a Bachelor certificate in 1995. In 1996, she enrolled for a Bachelor of Arts Degree at the University of Venda which was obtained in 1999. Dr Mutwanamba then registered for an Honours Degree in Gender Studies and graduated in 2004. Afterwards she volunteered at Thohoyandou Victim Empowerment Centre as a Debrifer to provide counseling to victims of domestic violence and sexual offences and was later employed as a Lay Counsellor performing the same duties. During 2005 period, she was appointed by the South African Police Service. After completion of her police training, Dr Mutwanamba was posted at Thohoyandou SAPS for field training as a student Constable in January 2006. She was then posted permanently at Tshilwavhusiku Police Station until November 2007 when she got a cross transfer to Makuya SAPS and executed her police duties until June 2024. While at Makuya Police Station, she worked at the Community Service Centre (CSC) and later as a Relief Commander for many years and supervised members working under her command. Dr Mutwanamba was later appointed as an Acting Vispol Commander and Domestic Violence Co-ordinator where her duties included conducting awareness campaigns in Gender Based Violence and Femicide at churches and community gatherings around Makuya policing area and Vhembe District. While busy working, she obtained a Computer Diploma in 2008 and later enrolled for a Master of Arts Degree in Gender Studies at the University of Venda and graduated in 2015. Her Dissertation was titled: Challenges faced by female police officers within the South African Police Service. A case of two police stations in Vhembe District of Limpopo Province, South Africa Dr Mutwanamba also acquired a Certificate in Project Management at Oxbridge Academy in 2018. "I loved education from my childhood and had a dream to become a Doctor of Philosophy and to be part of individuals who bring solutions in the societies. After completion of my Master's degree, I observed an alarming increase in GBVF cases and that prompted me to study further in Gender Studies in order to become a specialist in the field," remarkable Dr Mutwanamba. Sergeant Emmely Rendani Mutwanamba then registered for a Doctoral Degree in Gender Studies with the same institution in 2023. Her PhD thesis was titled: Probing gendered rehabilitation conditions for murder offenders in Thohoyandou Correctional Centre, Limpopo Province, South Africa. On the journey to acquire her PhD, she encountered challenges like having to balance work, family and studies but through hard work, dedication, focus, discipline, commitment and resilience she triumphed against all odds. She is one of the many police officers who were mentored under the watchful eyes of former Colonel Rudzani Rakhadani as part of the renowned “Madress team”. "My objective is to assist the SAPS with strategies on how to reduce or end this alarming scourge of GBVF" she concluded. A happily married and proud mother of two boys is currently stationed at Siloam police station under Vhembe District and working at the Community Service Centre (CSC). Ends
Enquiries:
X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/SAPoliceService
|
|
| Attachments | |
|
|
|