Matomeamohale makes history as first woman Alex CPF head
Alex's Sarah Matomeamohale has become a history maker in the township by being the first woman to occupy the position of chairpersonship of the previously male-dominated Community Policing Forum.
Sarah Matomeamohale has made history in Alexandra by becoming the first woman to occupy the hot seat of chairpersonship of the Community Policing Forum.
This follows her election on September 10 to this position that has become to be known as a somewhat hot potato seat in the township. It is highly sought after and makes her the fifth chairperson of the CPF since the establishment of the organisation in the 2000s.
The 49-year-old mother of two boys and a girl welcomed and embraced her history-making moment, as she was quick to add that she will not disappoint ‘imbokodo’ as she spearheads her crime-fighting mission and sojourn as head of the CPF.
“I feel highly honoured by my community in the township to have chosen me to be the first woman to occupy this position and I will do whatever it takes to uphold the dignity and sanctity of this noble crime-fighting body which is the hope of many.
“I would like to call on all the women in our community to join me and let’s go play together against crime, drugs, gender-based violence, and rape as some of the pandemics that plague our community. Come join me in the play,” she said quite softly but without undermining the seriousness of the nature of crimes.
Matomeamohale came up for the chairpersonship of the CPF after a stint as Sector 3 chair, an area that encompasses 13th Avenue up to 22nd Avenue and from Vincent Tshabalala Road that borders Alex and Kew right up to Florence Mophosho Road to the north that borders Alex and Marlboro.
Before ascending to the Sector 3 chairpersonship, Matomeamohale, whose parents come from Limpopo, but she was born and raised in Alexandra, was a patroller in the streets while also on a day job to fend for her children.
Asked why a voluntary job as head of the CPF has become a somewhat hot commodity, Matomeamohale pointed out that even the stipend paid was peanuts, but the crux of the matter is in the lucrative tenders and projects that often come the way of the CPF.
“This is what makes being in the executive of the CPF such a hot commodity and sought-after position. People come to the CPF for the wrong reasons as they think it’s their chance to enrich themselves.
“I just hope God gives me the strength to enable me to pass these deals to the more deserving people such as our patrollers and other members of the community.
“The other issue is to ensure you spread these projects and not give them to one and the same people or all of my relatives and family members from Limpopo. All this must come to an end so that participation in the CPF does not come at the lure of the rand,” Matomeamohale said.
Related Article:
