New JMPD graduates want to make a difference in the lives of residents

The lives of over a 1 000 JMPD recruits who were recently appointed as officers have changed for the better as they are embarking on a new journey, to protect the City’s citizens.

“I now feel like somebody in this life and the community that I come from. People now look at me differently because I bring solutions to many problems they are facing, and those who come with problems I can’t solve, I direct to the right person. Being in this position is a dream come true,” said Nikita Abdine-Leray, one of the recruits.

Like many young people in this country, Abdine-Leray said after she completed matric, she didn’t further her studies due to financial constraints, prompting her to look for a job so she can provide for her family.

“I knew one day I’ll work in law enforcement and I also understood it will take me longer than others to get there because of finances. Through it all, I held to my dream. Here I am, 12 years later. I wake up every day and do things I am passionate about,” said the 33-year-old mother of two.

Just like Abdine-Leray, it wasn’t an easy journey for Bongani Nyembe, a Soweto-born and bred former taxi driver who said being a taxi driver taught him everything he needed to learn to be the best officer he could be.

“Being a taxi driver taught me how to work with people,” he said.

Nyembe said he has always been a goal-orientated person who is always willing to learn and work hard in life to give his family a comfortable life.

“When I joined the academy, I continued to work on weekends as a taxi driver. I’m the breadwinner in my family, so I knew when I am chasing my dream, I also have to continue providing for my family. It wasn’t easy to be at school Monday to Friday and work on Saturdays and Sundays, but it all paid off in the end,” explained Nyembe.

He said now during his spare time he goes to the taxi ranks and persuades his former colleagues to do the right thing and adhere to all road regulations because he now knows better.

For Presley Packrisamy, becoming a JMPD officer came at the right time as his wife, who was taking care of the family when he joined the academy, had just lost her job due to Covid-19.

“I believe everything works out the way it should. My wife of two years has just lost her job when I was appointed as an officer. This appointment is just the foundation of where I want to be in life and my career,” the former Ajax Cape Town soccer player said.

Packrisamy joined Ajax Cape Town in 2011 on a three-year contract just after he finished matric. While he was living one of his dreams as a soccer player, life crumbled down when he was injured and his career ended. After three years with the team, his contract was not renewed.

Despite his failed soccer career, Packrisamy said being a law enforcement officer was something he was destined to be.

“My father was a police reservist for many years. I was inspired by the difference he was making in our community and I knew this is also something I want to do for my country,” he said.

Abdine-Leray, Nyembe and Packrisamy intend to study crime intelligence, forensics and policing, respectively.

When asked if she could encourage other young people to pursue a career in law enforcement, Abdine-Leray said: “If it’s your passion, then go for it.”

The cadets went through three-year intense training at the JMPD Academy in Booysens. They are now part of the City of Joburg 10+ programme, where at least 10 metro police officers are assigned to each of the City’s 135 wards to increase police visibility, enforce by-laws and prevent crime.

During his welcome address to the graduates, the mayor of the City of Johannesburg, Geoffrey Makhubo, urged them to make a difference in the lives of residents.

“You are the City’s last line of defence. We need you to ensure our infrastructure is not damaged, residents don’t willfully break the law and people’s safety is guaranteed so we can walk the streets freely and do business without any fear of criminals,” said Makhubo.