Driven by the love of protecting communities from criminals, Metro police officer, Aluwani Muhuma, has experienced her fair share of trials and tribulations as an officer.
Born and raised in Venda, Limpopo, Muhuma started her career with the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department [JMPD] back in 2007 and immediately felt at home.
Like many police officers, Muhuma’s description of her profession paints a portrait of an unsung hero who does not seek the limelight but prioritises the safety of others. The inevitable thought of the final curtain call lingers in her mind every day. “Life is not as easy as you may think or hope for. In my profession, I learned to treat the present as my last. For example, I might get a call right now to locate a missing vehicle with my partner [Constable Harry Leputu]. Ninety percent of the time I can come back and he might not, vice versa. My biggest lesson is to value and cherish life,” said Muhuma.
With the immense pressure from the public and her frequent brush with death, officer Muhuma shared how she copes with it all. “I have sessions with a representative from the Employee Assistant Programme [EAP] whenever I feel overwhelmed – whether it be personal or professional. This is where I get the opportunity to communicate what I am going through with a JMPD social worker. It helps me to release bottled up emotions and stress which comes from being at work,” she said.
She concluded by sharing a message with her communities, especially in Alexandra and Sandton, “I want more people to believe in us as police officers. Not all of us are the same, there are members such as myself and my partner that take pride in protecting and serving others. We kindly ask communities to continue helping us with the ongoing battle against crime.”
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