Official Contact Details: Physical Address: 2nd Floor, Fedsure Building, 268 Lilian Ngoyi Street, Pretoria, 0002 Telephone: 012 493 1400 | Website: www.policesecretariat.gov.za | www.facebook.com/civiliansecretariat/
Mr Thulani Smike Sibuyi: Director General of the Civilian Secretariat for Police Service
It is my pleasure to introduce the Women Heroes of the Civilian Secretariat for Police Service across all provinces – remarkable women who exemplify ethical leadership, intentional purpose and principled integrity.
Our core mandate is to develop policies that promote effective policing for South African communities through efficient Police Station Customer Service Centres that are responsive to Gender-Based Violence cases, while embracing the democratic policing principles of community-oriented policing, respect for human rights, the rule of law and accountability.
As we reflect on the invaluable contributions of the women across our provinces, we acknowledge their unwavering commitment to strengthening police oversight and supporting the South African Police Service in improving performance so that our communities are, and feel, safe.
These women have consistently demonstrated outstanding performance, and in this feature we highlight the individual milestones and achievements that have defined their professional journeys.
Beyond their professional responsibilities, these women have demonstrated exceptional leadership by mentoring and inspiring others, while also playing meaningful roles within their communities through service that extends beyond the call of duty.
National Civilian Secretariat for Police Service
Ms Bilkis Omar: Acting DDG: Policy, Research and Legislation
Ms Bilkis Omar is the Acting Deputy Director-General for Policy, Research and Legislation, bringing extensive expertise in research, policy development, and public safety. Holding an honours degree in Criminology, she has built a distinguished career in advancing evidence-based approaches to policing and safety governance.
Over the past fourteen years, Ms Omar has played a leading role in shaping South Africa’s safety policy landscape, driving the development of two significant White Papers on Policing and Safety. This work contributed to the adoption of the Integrated Crime and Violence Prevention Strategy by Cabinet in 2022, reinforcing the principle that safety is a shared responsibility requiring active participation from all spheres of government, communities, and society at large.
As Chief Director at the Civilian Secretariat for Police Service since 2012 and more recently in her acting executive role, she has overseen research, policy development, and legislative processes while representing the department on local and international platforms. Ms Omar remains a strong advocate for women’s advancement, encouraging continuous mentoring, learning and skills development to strengthen leadership and professional growth.
Mpumalanga Department of Community Safety, Security and Liason
Ms. Gloria Mazibuko, Head of Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison
Ms. Gloria Mazibuko heads one of government’s most demanding portfolios within the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) Cluster–a space with few women leaders. Ms. Mazibuko was appointed as Head of Department in November 2024. She holds a Master’s in Public Administration.
A social worker by profession, Mazibuko joined government in 1991. Thirty-three years later, she is using that experience to overhaul the Department from the inside out. Her first priority was the restructuring of the Department’s organizational structure, which was not responsive to current service mandates, was skewed, and lacked capacity at the coalface of service delivery.
Mazibuko fast-tracked the process, unlocking a series of long-outstanding senior appointments that are critical to service delivery, and ensured that districts and cost centres are adequately staffed.
Under her watch, the Department appointed a Head of the Provincial Secretariat for Police Oversight, as well as other senior managers to stabilize leadership and strengthen accountability across the province.
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Gauteng Department of Community Safety
Ms Mmemme Makane Sibanda: Head of Provincial Secretariat
Ms Mmemme Makane Sibanda who graduated with Honours in Gender Studies from the from University of Pretoria, is the Head of Provincial Secretariat and embodies a rare blend of faith-driven leadership in the public service. A clergywoman, mother and senior government executive, she believes that community safety extends beyond policing and requires ethical leadership, social transformation and collective action. Guided by values of humility, compassion and integrity, she has cultivated a culture of service, teamwork and accountability within the Provincial Secretariat, reminding those around her that leadership is ultimately about stewardship and caring for others.
Her tenure has been marked by institution-building and innovation. In 2023, she convened the first Provincial Secretariat Strategic Planning Session, which gave rise to integrated working models known as PS Camps, fostering collaboration across teams. She has played a leading role in implementing the Gauteng Cooperative Agreement model, strengthening coordination among government, SAPS, Metro Police and communities in the fight against crime.
Ms Sibanda’s leadership extends beyond traditional policing into education, innovation and social cohesion. She has spearheaded partnerships with universities and TVET colleges to advance campus safety, GBVF interventions and ePolicing initiatives, while also driving the Gauteng Integrated Crime and Violence Prevention Strategy to embed safety across government. Her work in hostel conflict mediation, substance abuse interventions and civilian oversight of policing reflects her belief that sustainable safety requires collaboration between government and citizens. Above all, her legacy is one of servant leadership: a leader whose faith guides her decisions, whose compassion shapes her leadership and whose work continues to build a safer, more accountable and caring Gauteng.
Official Contact Details: Physical Address: 2nd Floor, Fedsure Building, 268 Lilian Ngoyi Street, Pretoria, 0002 Telephone: 012 493 1400 | Website: www.policesecretariat.gov.za | www.facebook.com/civiliansecretariat/
North West Department of Community Safety and Transport Management
Ms Mpho Rantona: Head of Provincial Secretariat
Currently pursuing a Master of Commerce degree, Ms Mpho Rantona holds an LLB and a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Management. Her professional journey reflects a steadfast commitment to justice, ethical leadership, community empowerment, and public service excellence.
With extensive experience spanning the legal profession and senior leadership roles in government, Ms Rantona has consistently championed good governance, accountability, and improved service delivery. She is passionate about building capable institutions that serve communities effectively while upholding the principles of integrity, transparency, and constitutional governance.
As a woman in leadership, Ms Rantona believes in creating pathways for other women to succeed. She is committed to mentoring emerging female leaders, fostering confidence, and creating opportunities that enable women to realise their full potential.
For Ms Rantona, Women’s Month is both a celebration and a call to action. It honours the courage, resilience, and sacrifices of the women of 1956, whose legacy continues to inspire generations. It also serves as a reminder of the responsibility to advance gender equality, protect the rights of women and children, and contribute towards a society free from violence, discrimination, and fear.
”Women’s Month reminds us that leadership is not only about the positions we hold, but about the opportunities we create for others. Each generation has a responsibility to leave a stronger foundation for the next, ensuring that women and girls can thrive, lead, and contribute fully to the development of our nation,” she said
Free State Department of Community Safety, Roads and Transport
Ms. Hilary Mophethe: Acting Head of Provincial Secretariat
Ms Mophethe currently a PhD candidate in Governance and Political Transformation at the University of the Free State holds a degree in Management Leadership and brings to the environment a combination of management leadership, executive development, and advanced governance training which supports her oversight responsibility and ethical leadership.
Ms Mophethe also serves as the Head of Corporate Communications Directorate and as Spokesperson for the department since 2014. During her tunure she has led various flagship projects not only within the department but across government platforms. She has demonstrated a diverse range of skills in strategy, media relations and public engagement contributing significantly to the department’s visibility and stakeholder relations.
She spearheads the provincial monitoring and evaluation of police conduct and police service delivery, promotion of oversight and accountability within law enforcement agencies, coordinating community safety initiatives, and ensuring compliance with the Civilian Secretariat for Police Service Act and related legislation.
Her leadership skills have acquired her the female Chairperson for “Women in Management Forum, she is currently the first female appointed as the chairperson of the Department Task Team, a chamber dealing with employee issues.
To her, Women’s Month is more than just a calendar observance, it’s a personal call to action rooted in her own journey through management leadership and governance studies, she sees August as a time to reflect on the progress women have made in public service, while acknowledging the barriers that still remain.
Eastern Cape Department of Community Safety
Ms Nonkqubela Mlenzana, Acting Head of Provincial Secretariat
Ms Nonkqubela Mlenzana holds an Honours Degree in Social Work and is serving as the Acting Head of Provincial Secretariat, with a responsibility of overseeing initiatives aimed at promoting accountable, effective community-centred policing.
She plays a critical role in the implementation of the Court Watching Brief which contributes to the successful finalisation of critical GBV cases and earned the Eastern Cape Department of Community Safety the 2024 Provincial Premier’s Service Excellence Award.
She leads the oversight assessment of the SAPS specialised units, resulting in service delivery improvements, enhanced operational capacity, and the upgrading of the Lusikisiki Police Station FCS (Family Violence, Child Protection & Sexual Offences).
One of the key successes of these oversight Assessments has seen the Lusikisiki Police Stations improve its performance.
Fondly known as Nkqunkqu, she actively promotes women’s participation in decision-making processes and is a great advocate for inclusive leadership that strengthens accountability, community safety, and service delivery.
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Limpopo Department of Transport and Community Safety
Ms. Modjadji Melita Mogashoa: Acting Head of Provincial Secretariat
Ms. Modjadji Melita Mogashoa driven by education, her executive capabilities are built on a strong academic foundation of her LLB achievement. Her passion is to bring innovation that creates lasting change and impact in government and has since introduced a five-year research agenda to guide departmental projects with clear, evidence-based direction.
In, pursuing oversight responsibilities, she identified gaps on how oversight feedback reached the South African Police Service and effected corrective measures through introducing formal, written feedback reports that creates a clear accountability mechanism. This systematic reporting gives law enforcement a practical tool to develop actionable implementation strategies for every departmental recommendation. The early feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, and it confirms that good governance starts with clear communication.
She believes Public Service Excellence is not a title, but a daily practice of executing strategy with integrity.
To her, Women’s Month is about establishing an enabling environment where every woman can stand and be counted in oversight responsibilities, policy formulation, and that is the future she is working to build.
Articles Produced by Pinda Ntsaluba ; Head of Communications ; pi************@*****ov.za ; 074 429 8341
Western Cape Department of Police Oversight and Community Safety
Ms. Thumeka Lamani: Acting Director Safety Promotion and Partnerships
We proudly recognize the outstanding contribution of Ms. Thumeka Lamani, a seasoned public service leader with more than 20 years of experience in community safety, crime prevention, youth development, and community upliftment. Ms. Lamani, who holds an Executive Leadership National Diploma, has recently been appointed as Acting Director: Safety Promotion and Partnerships, a role that reflects her dedication, experience, and continued impact in public service.
For many years, Ms. Lamani served with distinction as Deputy Director: Social Crime Prevention Project Implementation, where she became a key driver of youth-at-risk interventions. She has played a meaningful role in implementing initiatives that provide young people, especially those from disadvantaged and high-risk communities, with opportunities for growth, skills development, guidance, and hope. Her greatest satisfaction comes from helping and up-skilling youth, contributing directly to transforming lives where it matters most.
Northern Cape Department of Transport, Safety and Liason
Ms Suzan Mapitse: Assistant Manager Policy and Research
Ms Suzan Mapitse holds a post graduate Diploma in Public Administration was appointed as a researcher analyst and her area of specialisation includes Community Satisfaction Surveys and Efficiency Index System Analysis, which are used to evaluate police service delivery performance at various police stations across the Northern Cape Province.
Her most notable achievement is the appointment as a Chairperson of the Provincial Regulatory Entity where she is responsible for adjudicating applications for operating licences across six transport service categories. This role has significantly enhanced her decision-making, analytical, and research capabilities, enabling her to provide professional leadership while ensuring fair and informed regulatory decisions.
Mapitse empowers women by sharing research expertise and mentoring female colleagues.
She also contributes to building the next generation of researchers within the department.