The city manager of Ekurhuleni, Dr Imogen Mashazi, has pledged to empower female members of the EMPD and the Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services (DEMS) to further their studies so that they can occupy senior positions in the department.
Speaking to hundreds of female metro police and emergency service officers during the launch of the City Manager’s Uniformed Female Officers in Community Safety Legacy Project, in Thokoza last Tuesday, Mashazi made it clear that the project is aimed at motivating and empowering female officers.
“This innovation is aimed at motivating and celebrating uniformed officers in the city, who despite the intricate nature of their work, continue to dedicate themselves to fighting lawlessness.
“Not only do they risk their lives on a daily basis by taking on heartless and brutal criminals, they continue to ensure that we are as crime and lawless free as possible,” said Mashazi.
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She added that she would love to see both the metro police and emergency services being led by women.
“In showing our appreciation for their hard work and dedication, this legacy project is about prioritising their academic advancement, celebrating their achievements and tackling any bias directed at them,” Mashazi said.
Mashazi said the metro will be looking closely at the issue of career progression for female officers “because it is common knowledge that this profession and a number of others continue to be dominated by males.”
“The critical issues that we will be looking at are: Do we have enough female officers in high positions and is the career progression programme we have benefitting them?
“If the answers are negative, immediate action will have to be taken,” Mashazi said.
“Education is a key that opens all doors.
“It is a key that will unlock senior posts for our women; hence, we must encourage them to seize the opportunity and further their studies.”
The City Manager’s Uniformed Female Officers in Community Safety Legacy Project will run for the next five years.
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