Getting to know Sgt Leah Mtsweni

Born and raised in Kwa-Thema, Sgt Leah Mtsweni (37) is a detective at the Springs Police Station.

She is an 18-year veteran of the police force and has worked in different units.

You were the investigating officer in the Sanet Mari Brand case (bogus doctor) and she was found guilty and sentenced to two years in prison.

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How does it feel when you get a conviction?

You get a satisfactory feeling because it means you did everything right. If it goes to the magistrate and he says guilty, I feel proud of myself.
Even when I don’t get a guilty verdict, from that docket, I will learn how I could have done better for the next time.
That case received a lot of media attention. Does that make your job harder and put pressure on you to solve the case faster?
We were taught that the media will always be there but we should focus and do what we have to do.
I know the media is there and read their articles but I just continue with my job. I love the pressure and I perform better when I’m under pressure.

Why did you become a detective and not a police officer?
I always want to know more. I was at the uniform branch at first and there I noticed that people used to ask us legal questions, some of which I was not equipped to answer.
I would have to research to get an answer for them. For me to know the whole field, I decided to work in other departments and I worked in crime intelligence for two years, then I explored the computer systems.
Then I decided to go the extra mile and joined the detective unit. Now when I interact with the community I can answer their questions with confidence because I’ve got more knowledge.

What attracted you to the police force?
When I was doing matric we had to do an English essay about our career plans and I wrote that I wanted to become a police officer, after seeing the lawlessness in our location.
At the time I attended Lefa Ifa Secondary School in Kwa-Thema. After completing matric, I looked for work for a while until someone I knew who worked here told me they were recruiting new members and I signed up to join in 2003.

What makes a good detective?
You have to be dedicated, committed, love what you do, don’t postpone things and know a lot about the legislation, do your research, especially about criminal procedures.

Are there more female detectives now compared to when you first started?
We have a lot of female detectives now. At first, there were less than five, but now the numbers have grown.

When you compare yourself to your male colleagues, what do you do differently?
There are times when I have to ask for backup when I’m going somewhere. In some cases, I always use other methods, try to be softer, convince the suspect to talk before we get to the harsher part. Let them understand where I’m coming from before you start treating me in a way I don’t understand.

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What is the public’s reaction to you as a female detective?
Some are soft and just go with the flow. Some put their foot down and when that happens, you have to rise to their level and show them that even though you’re a woman, you can still do the job.
Irrespective of whether you’re a man or woman, if you’re my suspect, I’ll handle you the same way I handle everyone else.
I’m not going to give you the advantage of your masculinity.

What do you enjoy the most about your job?
I enjoy the challenges and the problems we have to solve because that’s when you learn. In future, I will know what to do in a similar situation.

What do you think about those TV shows where they make being a detective look so easy and solve cases quickly?
I love watching those detective shows because they are fascinating.
I always think if only we could have their technology and response, then we would solve many cases quickly.
Technology has made our lives easier and when we do DNA tests and mark them as urgent, they (the labs) respond quickly.