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50 Goue Jare (1972-2022)

Suid-Afrikaanse Polisievroue
South African Police Women
Die 50ste bestaansjaar (1972-2022) van Vroue in die SA Polisie word hierdie jaar herdenk. 'n Gedenkboek propvol interessante stories, met foto's, is nou beskikbaar vir bestelling deur Groep 7 Drukkers.
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​WOMEN IN THE SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE (SAP)
FIRST INTAKES

In January 1972 the SAP appointed the first two women: Duveen Botha was appointed as Commanding Officer of the Division for Women Police with the rank of lieutenant-colonel and Anna Nel as her adjutant with the rank of major. They were accountable to the Commissioner of the South African Police. Duveen Botha fulfilled this role until her retirement in 1985 with the rank of Brigadier. The ladies had to execute their duties as described in the Police Act. In 1972, there were 100 policewomen and more than 50,000 policemen in South Africa.
In 1972, each division of the SAP in the country had a male recruitment officer. The recruitment officer had to recruit suitable applicants for the SAPS. Applications were forwarded to the main recruitment office in Pretoria. Applicants had to appear before the selection committee. Gen Fourie initially accompanied the two ladies, Lt Col Botha and Maj Nel to the various divisions to interview each applicant as stipulated by Head Office.

​Later the Chief Recruitment Officer took Gen Fourie's place and accompanied the ladies until eventually, Lt-Col Botha took control. In 1981, Brig Visser also joined the selection panel. White South African females were chosen from all over the country, including both rural and urban areas.

Initially, only white recruits were chosen, because the police were mainly white and the Pretoria Training College was the only college in 1972 which could accommodate female recruits.
Brigadier Duveen Botha
Sketch of Brigadier Duveen Botha by Dawn Kellerman
It was also necessary to secure a sound foundation before policing was opened to females of all races.

For the first 102 vacancies advertised, there were 758 applications from urban as well as rural areas. After the initial selection process, the recruits were invited for an interview before a panel of selectors. The panel adhered to strict standards to ensure that the recruits conformed to a high standard. Due to the restricted availability of accommodation at the Police College in Pretoria, the first intake was limited to 102 white recruits, which represented three platoons of 34 members each. The first recruits started their training in March 1972 at the Police College in Pretoria. There were 11 recruits with university degrees or tertiary diplomas (eg teachers) in the first group. After recruitment, the "green" recruits would be placed either at Head Office or other police stations until they could join the Police College in Pretoria. Recruitment was done twice a year in February and in July.
​It was never the idea to recruit white ladies only, and when Head Office realised that the concept of policewomen was not only viable but also a resounding success, thought was given to the recruitment and training of females of all ethnic groups. The training of the different cultures took place at various training colleges in South Africa.


Policemen as well as policewomen recruits received their training at the same colleges. The medium of training at the training colleges in Pretoria and Bishop Lavis was mainly Afrikaans, but English-speaking recruits were issued with. English textbooks and could write their tests in English.

In Chatsworth, they received tuition in English and at Hammanskraal mainly in Northern Sotho (Pedi) as well as other ethnic languages and if necessary in the two official languages of South Africa, which at that time were English and Afrikaans.
All female applicants had to conform to the same academic and physical prerequisites as males. They received the same training, uniforms, salaries and fringe benefits. At present male as well as female recruits, from all races are trained at the Pretoria, Chatsworth, Bisho, Graaff-Reinet, Oudtshoorn and Philippi Training Colleges.

On 20 July 1981, the first Coloured women were enrolled and they started their training at Bishop Lavis, Cape Town. This College was in the so-called Coloured neighbourhood in Cape Town and as the majority of recruits came from the Western Cape, it was easy for them to go home on their weekends off. They had to adhere to the same requirements as their white female counterparts.

In 1982 the first group of Asian ladies started their training at the training college, which was in Chatsworth, Durban. Only 30 recruits could be accommodated in an existing building previously used for courses given to dog handlers. The recruits each had a single room and there was an existing lecture hall and mess. Two female chefs were employed to conform to the menu of the different religious groups in training.

In 1983, the first group of African' ladies started their training at Hammanskraal Training College, north of Pretoria. These ladies were accommodated in one communal hall, but curtains were put up so that each one had her own private space to sleep and get dressed.

​CONCLUSION

Discussing the pinnacles of her career, it should be mentioned that Brig Botha received the Police Medal for Faithful Service, the Police Star for Distinguished Service and the South West Africa Independence Medal for her role in the establishment of a Woman Police Force in South West Africa (now Namibia).

A highlight in her career was the establishment of single quarters for all policewomen stationed in Pretoria. The nine-storey building was appropriately named: "Huis Duveen Botha." It is now called "Ingwe".

Brigadier Botha retired at the end of 1985. From the middle of 1986 until April 1993, she worked as language advisor for the then Security Branch of the South African Police Force. She also worked at the police library. She finally retired at the age of 69 years after serving the State for 49 years.
Although Brig Botha was a strict disciplinarian, her unfailing enthusiasm and her good sense of humour were some of her most outstanding characteristics.

Source: 2005 SERVAMUS January – p 59
More info.: Nongqai Vol 7 No 6 (May 2016)

NONGQAI
​Special Editions
Women Police

NONGQAI
​Special Editions - Women Police

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