Discipline will take you far – Const Mashakane

Meet Constable Mpho Precious Mashakane, a woman from Ga-maraba in Polokwane.

The mother of a 10-year-old boy is the eldest of three sisters and one brother.

She describes herself as a hard working and reserved person.

Const Mashakane is studying towards her Honours Degree in Social Work. She believes discipline and respect forms the foundation for success.

“Discipline can take you far. When you respect your job, elders and your bosses at work, you will go far,” she said.

Const Mashakane joined the SAPS in 2009.

She trained at Bisho College and started working at the Cleveland SAPS the same year.

“I started working in the social crime prevention unit. That is where I met and worked with wonderful people like Warrant Officer Freddy Ledwaba. He taught me what I needed to know about the SAPS and my job. He introduced me to communications. I can proudly say I am his product,” she said.

She said her love for her job is the driving force behind her success.

“Being passionate and loving what you do is the key. I do not think I could succeed if I was doing what I do without loving it. When I receive a call in the early hours of the morning that needs my attention, I wake up and give my utmost attention. Being positive and loving my job is my driving force,” she said.

Const Mashakane said there is one challenge every police officer is faced with everyday.

“Safety. As a police officer, every time when you go to work you do not know whether you will come back. When you drive on the street, you do not know whether someone will shoot you. This has become a trend. Many criminals are targeting police officers,” she said.

She said she prays for safety all the time.

She wants to change the perception that many people have about the SAPS.

“Some people think being a police officer is about arresting criminals. There are many units and departments in the SAPS. With my social worker qualifications, I hope to help the members deal with the traumatic scenes they are exposed to everyday as they are working,” she said.

She said there are many police officers who need counselling.

“When I am done with this qualification, I hope I will help both people outside the SAPS and my colleagues within the SAPS,” she said.

Though hard to pick one case, Const Mashakane said the most bizarre case she had to attend to was of a man firing his licensed firearm in public.

“We had an operation in the area when we heard gunshots. Residents informed us that there was someone firing his gun in the air on the street. Fortunately, we were not far. When we approached the suspect, he was firing his gun in the air and people were running for safety. We pursued him and arrest him,” she said.

“He had a licence for his firearm and he is supposed to know that it is a criminal offence to discharge a firearm in public. Just because of this, he is going to spend Christmas behind bars,” said Const Mashakane.

She said the October Rhodes Park double murder and rape incident was one of the most horrible scenes she has ever attended to.

“I was there before the bodies were recovered. I saw the divers searching in the water. I saw the bodies being taken out of the water. Even now, I still ask myself how could people rape women in front of their men, throw other human beings into the water and watch them fighting for their lives until they die,” she said.

Const Mashakane said she would like to interact with the residents on the issues of crime.

She can be reached at mashakanemp@saps.gov.za at anytime.

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