Katlehong SAPS welcomes new acting police head
This, however, is not her first high-profile post in a densely populated and crime-ridden residential area, such as Katlehong.
The Katlehong SAPS has a new acting police head, Col Phakama Gcaza, a mother of three children. Gcaza is as hard as nails when it comes to fighting against crime, and does not tolerate lawlessness.
“Firstly, I am a woman and a mother, and I understand what it is to be compassionate, caring and understanding. “My commitment and responsibility to the community of Katlehong will always be tilted toward those who seek justice through the law,” she said.
This, however, is not her first high-profile post in a densely populated and crime-ridden residential area, such as Katlehong.
The soft-spoken mother from Tsomo Village in the Eastern Cape said she has best interests at heart for the community of Katlehong.
She has served 32 years in the police service, 12 of those as a Vispol commander at Vosloorus and Springs.
She completed her training at the Hammanskraal Police Training College in 1987.
Gcaza has made an appeal to the community of Katlehong to take advantage of her office, as she believes in an ‘open-door’ policy.
“I am a firm and strong believer in keeping my office door open to anyone at anytime,” she said.
Her short-term plan is to improve the police station. Gcaza said her main priority is to stop gender-based violence in the township.
“My long-term plan is to reduce crime in Katlehong. My strategic plan is to fight crime, and that will involve different stakeholders such as EMPD, Flying Squad, K9 and tracker companies to achieve this goal.
“Getting people from outside is helpful, often people who have been here for a very long time tend to be in comfort zones,” she said.
Gcaza also plans to involve the community in her fight against crime.
“I would make good use of awareness campaigns through our communications officer, and trust that the community will assist the police by reporting crime so that we can all collaborate in making Katlehong a better place for all,” Gcaza said.
Kathorus MAIL asked how she would tackle violence aimed at women and children.
She said gender-based violence is not an easy crime to solve because it mainly happens indoors, but she pleaded with victims to report such cases and not withdraw them, no matter what.
“Withdrawing such cases is very dangerous because it leads to victims being killed by the perpetrators,” Gcaza told Kathorus MAIL.
With the issue of proper investigations and dockets going missing, Gcaza assured there have never been cases of missing dockets in Katlehong.
“Since I started working at this station, I do not remember any cases of missing dockets. Another way we prevent losing dockets is through a new technology we use at this station, where we scan and backup dockets. Even if dockets get lost, we can still retrieve them from the system,” Gcaza said.
