“I have always wanted to be a cop, it runs in the family as my dad was also a cop,” said the new station commander for the Germiston SAPS, Brig Nkensani Lemba.
“I took office as Germiston’s station commander on July 1.”
The beginning of her career dates back to the 90’s.
“I started on January 24, 1994, and have been going through the ranks passionately, so from constable to my current rank of brigadier.”
Lemba has been a station commander at three other police stations.
“From 2010 I was a station commander at the Barrage SAPS, then held office at Ennerdale from 2012 to
January 2016, and from then, till just before my appointment here, I was at the Thokoza SAPS,” she explained.
When asked about her plans for the Germiston community she said; “My plans are nothing outside the (NDP) National Development Plan 2030; the vision says the communities of South Africa must feel and be safe.
“In particular chapter 12 and 14 where we will have to talk about ensuring the safety of every man in the street and to eradicate corruption on every level.
“The one strategy that always works is the integrated strategy where we work with all the security force levels and the force multipliers in this case will be the reservists, security guards and the community.
“The CPFs will form the bigger part of what we are going to do.”
Lemba also said that she needs the community’s assistance.
“I will not succeed without the community, I need them to report crimes and need their cooperation because they are my eyes and ears,” she said.
“We need information from them for us to be able to police them properly.
“We will also put out suggestion boxes where they can suggest how they want to be policed.
“Attending public meetings or any other meetings helps us a lot because we learn different things about the different communities during the meetings.
“Every community has its own needs.”
The new station commander also said they will be tackling the buying of stolen goods.
“We discourage the buying of stolen goods and we are going to deal harshly with the second-hand dealers who accept stolen goods for not complying with the second-hand goods act,” she said.
“The integrated approach involves and includes everyone, we have to work together because the people who commit the crimes are the people we know and are living in our backyards.”
Lemba also told the GCN that police officers committing crimes need to face the law as well.
“The police are not above the law, if they do something wrong why don’t we bring them to book?” she asked.
Lemba said she is looking forward to working with the Germiston SAPS.
“I have learnt a lot from everybody who I have met and I look forward to learning from every member of the Germiston SAPS.
“It is never a one man show, I consider myself a team player and if we win then we all win and if we lose we all lose, together we will achieve more.
“Being a cop is more of a calling and you need to be dedicated and love what you do.
“If you cut me my blood will be blue because I love this job.
“I am here to serve and protect, nothing else.”
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