Meet the new face of communications – Pinetown SAPS
As the new Pinetown SAPS communications officer, Jennifer Naidu urges the public to make use of the new suggestion box at the Community Service Centre to report or evaluate police services.
JENNIFER Naidu is the new communications officer at Pinetown SAPS. Naidu took over from Captain Bongumusa Manqele who took an early retirement last year.
Asked how she ended up in communications after she previously worked at Human Resource Development (Training Office), Naidu responded with a huge smile and said, “With God, all things are possible.”
She referred to her job in communications as a calling rather than a duty.
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Her career in the South Africa Police Services began 26 years ago, straight out of her matric.
She started working in logistics in 1991 at Pinetown West in Hill Street. She has also worked at Mariannhill SAPS, Durban International Airport in Exhibits and at Bhekithemba Supply Chain Management.
In 2017, she returned to Pinetown.
As the new communications officer, Naidu said she wants to change people’s perceptions and their mindsets about the police.
“With the new upgraded Community Service Centre (CSC), the public will receive service of a high standard. I want the police and the community to work together – we cannot make our community safe unless we work together.”
She mentioned that she is not new to working with the community as from an early age of 16 years – through the churches she worked with in Mariannhill, Savanna Park and in Pinetown, she was involved in various outreach programmes.
During just three months of being in communications, Naidu has been very active in the community.
“My day starts with a meeting. Some days, I visit schools and give talks on various topics, such as crime, drug substances and bullying. I plan new awareness programmes, visit senior citizens’ clubs and uplift and boost the morale of our members as I truly believe that the CSC is the heart of the station,” said the dedicated Naidu.
Even though Naidu does not respond to crime scenes, she described her job and all the other behind-the-scenes staff as very important role-players at the police station. “Behind every successful entity, there is a dedicated and committed team. Teamwork always makes the dream work.”
Naidu urged the community to report crime. “There is no such thing as a small crime; the public should change their perception of levelling crimes as being petty or insignificant. This includes crimes such as the theft of a gate battery.
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“Unreported crime affects crime management and therefore results in ineffective policing, such as statistic-based patrols in your area,” she said.
She urged the public to report if they feel they are given poor service. “Such things need to be communicated – the CSC now has a suggestion box where they can report, complete our evaluation and rate our services. I am the only one who has access to it, and people can remain anonymous if they wish to.”
Naidu added that she is happily married and, in her spare time, she enjoys working in her garden and watching Bollywood movies.
She can be contacted via email: NaiduJennifer@saps.gov.za.
Important numbers to assist the community
Community service centre: 031 325 6794 / 031 325 6795 / 031 325 6080 / 031 325 5079
Station commander: 031 325 5074
Vispol commander / Vispol support: 031 325 5111 / 031 325 5294
Detective commander: 031 325 5226
Detective support: 031 325 5023
Police drivers’ permit / Police clearance: 031 325 5084
Collisions/accidents: 031 325 5086
Designated firearm office (DFO): 031 325 5044 / 031 325 5052 / 031 325 5290
DFO support: 031 325 5051
Communications: 031 325 5041 / 031 325 5075
Social crime prevention: 031 325 5059
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