First female area commissioner to take charge of Correctional Services
The Limpopo Department of Correctional Services has appointed its first female area commissioner, who is in charge of Polokwane, Tzaneen and Modimolle's correctional centres.
POLOKWANE – Lydia Mamabolo was officially appointed on 1 February 2020 but started her journey with the department in 2009 as a deputy director in finance and supply chain. Before that, Mamabolo ascended the ranks in the Department of Health’s finance section.
She holds a National Diploma in accounting from the Tshwane University of Technology and a degree in business administration from the Southern Business College, where she is currently busy with her honours degree.
She describes herself as a “numbers person” and says her love of numbers started in high school when she had to select the subjects she wanted to study.
“I clearly remember taking geography, but after my first lesson, I realised I was not in the right place. I replaced geography with accounting and I never looked back.”
Working as a woman in a position of leadership comes with many challenges, she says.
“It is mostly a lack of support from the female co-workers and the stigma that women can’t lead. Cultural realitivism also plays a role in the challenges I face. Changing cultural habits is not easy and as a leader, I need to ensure daily that I am responsible, fair and transparent.”
Mamabolo has also made it her responsibility to ensure the growth of her subordinates: “Being a great leader means ensuring that everyone ends up a leader. I want to ensure that the next deputy director, or area commissioner is someone who was groomed in management”.
She says her role includes incarcerating offenders in a secure and humane location, where they will be rehabilitated through educational programmes. She also says it is her responsibility to ensure the well-being of officials, mentally, physically and emotionally.
“We have an employee assistance programme that aims to ensure personal development”.
