A day in the life of a R’fontein cop
The Herald spoke to Lieutenant Colonel Josephine Maria Ntshosho, who is still committed to ensuring that the residents of Randfontein feel safe after 27 years.
November 2018 will mark 28 years since Lieutenant Colonel Josephine Maria Ntshosho dedicated her life to combating crime with her police badge of honour.
To this day, she is still passionate about her job and still committed to ensuring that the residents of Randfontein feel safe.
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The 47-year-old resident of Westonaria said she’d wanted to be a police officer from a very early age. “When I was a little girl, I realised that I was always willing to help my community and the idea of enlisting to become a police officer started then. The idea grew on me because I was Girl Guide, a movement which applies the same principles as the police force.
“To this day, I serve with passion,” Ntshosho said. Since 1990, when she joined the service, she has remained committed to the force and upholding an excellent work ethic and integrity.
“I start my shift at 5.45am, and as a relief commander, when I report for duty, I start by conducting the parade and checking whether other members of the police report for duty on time. I then inspect them to ensure that they have their logistical equipment,” she said.
Ntshosho said that among her responsibilities is the deployment of other police officers, which involves informing the radio control unit of the station. After the deployment, she goes to the holding cells to check whether everything corresponds with what is on the register. This also means that she addresses complaints prisoners may have.
She said she also presides over the searching of the holding cells. “If any problems arise during the search, for example, if there are problems with water, they are attended to immediately.”
Some of her other daily tasks include posting police officers according to their sectors and monitoring the performance of their duties. She also attends daily meetings, such as the Station Crime Combat Forum. “After the meeting, I continue with my daily routine of checking registers and attending to complaints that may need my intervention.”
Ntshosho is also responsible for redirecting clients to the relevant components of the police and communicating with the vehicles. “I do supervision and control by monitoring police members while they are attending to cases in the field. Also, inside the station, I manage the personnel, by checking if they are complying with standing orders. In addition, I check all the case dockets before they are registered.”
She said she’s proud of the difference she has made in the community of Randfontein over the years, because she believes that she has executed all her duties with diligence.
“Not one client has ever lodged a complaint against me in all the years I have served as a police office. That truly makes proud, because it shows my commitment to my work.”
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