The determined, optimistic Lieutenant Colonel (Lt-Col) Amanda Funani shares with the Herald her passion and journey in SAPS’ communications.

Lt-Col Funani is a media officer (also known as a communication officer), for the South African Police Service in North West, working under the corporate communication and liaison banner. Her primary responsibilities are promoting and protecting the organisation’s image and assisting and building a relationship with the community.

As Lt-Col Funani reflects on her journey, she says “After I passed my matric, I knew I wanted to be a journalist. It was my dream.” She studied journalism and qualified in 2007. For the next three years, she worked for community news publications in the Eastern Cape. The publication she was working for closed down in 2009. However, she had to find a new career where she could continue her passion for writing and telling stories. That was when the Eastern Cape SAPS communications advertised an internship. She applied and was successful.

She joined the NW SAPS communications as a Captain in 2011. In 2015, she was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
Lt-Col Funani says the position she now occupies is, to some extent, similar to journalism. She still takes pictures, writes and tells stories; only she is now doing so for the organisation.

Lt-Col Amanda Funani

Daily duties:

In the mornings, media liaison officers do media monitoring and look for stories that involve the NW SAPS. “We also check whether the stories are either negative, positive or neutral. We then compile a report for our Brigadier (commander) and discuss it.” Communication officers gather and write stories about internal events and matters. They compile and publish these in internal newsletters and the magazine. They also write speeches for those in management and respond to media enquiries.

Requirements:

To be a communication officer, you need qualifications in journalism, media studies, communication, public relations or marketing. This is because the job requires branding and marketing the organisation.

Lt-Col Funani says one of the most rewarding aspects of her career is engaging with community members. Being able to assist and work with different members of the community is what she loves best.