“Today, women taught us that women can become pilots and commanders in the SAPS.”
Seventeen-year-old Garrin Ashwon Naudé from Potchefstroom Secondary was one of the 14 local high school learners from disadvantaged backgrounds that were guests of the Ikageng SAPS last Thursday.
The visit was part of the unit’s Take a Girl Child to Work Day campaign.
According to the Ikageng SAPS spokesperson, Const. Kelebogile Trom, the campaign involves taking female learners to spend the day with the SAPS personnel.
“The learners were enthusiastic about being exposed to the workplace and the range of careers they can follow within the SAPS,” she said.
The learners saw how dockets are opened and how to write affidavits. The most riveting activity of the day, however, was the road trip to the Mounted Unit and the SAPS Air Wing unit.
“The learners got to learn more about helicopters and what it takes to become a pilot in the SAPS. They also had an opportunity to ride on horses at the SAPS Mounted Academy.”
Photo: Selogile Leshage
Sgt Adri Venter, SAPS airborne law enforcement officer and hostage negotiator told them that, while women did not fly helicopters in the olden days but that has now changed.
“Never think that, just because you are a woman, you won’t be employed in careers that were not accessible to women before.
“If you set your mind to something, you can do anything that your heart desires. Pray to God, do your part, He will do the rest,” she said.
Naudé and the other girls were impressed with the SAPS initiative.
“I have learnt that there is a lot to life and that we should go out there and follow our dreams,” she said.
Naudé says she would like to become an air hostess one day because she wants to travel the world.
After an informative but exhausting session at the Ikageng SAPS, the learners enjoyed a tasty lunch and each received pencil cases as mementoes.
Photo: Selogile Leshage
Photo: Selogile Leshage
Photo: Selogile Leshage
Related Articles
You can read the full story on our App. Download it here.