Young ‘general’ on a mission to fight crime
Andisiwe takes up post as EC’s first ‘Jr commissioner’
MEET the youngest “police general” – 14-year-old Andisiwe Sango of Motherwell, Port Elizabeth, who was sworn in as junior provincial commissioner by Eastern Cape provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Liziwe Ntshinga this week.
This is a pilot police project – done on a voluntary basis for two years – initiated by the SAPS with the aim of boosting the fight against crimes committed against children.
Andisiwe’s job will focus on helping the police provide better safety and security for her peers.
Among the challenges she will be tackling are bullying at Eastern Cape schools, underage drinking, teenage pregnancies and child trafficking.
The project is the first of its kind in South Africa, said provincial police spokesman Captain Khaya Tonjeni.
Andisiwe, a Grade 9 Douglas Mbopha High School pupil, will work closely with 5 000 schools in the province – and the police – to assist in the fight against crime.
“We have so many girls and boys at schools who smoke and drink alcohol, so my first job would be going around schools raising awareness about the dangers of underage smoking and drinking.
“Pupils need to feel safe and relaxed at school, so that they can study in peace. I would like to end racism at schools, bullying and teenage pregnancies by raising awareness,” she said.
Andisiwe said she was not worried about having to strike a balance between her schoolwork and attending police meetings.
“It’s all about time management. I have to draw up a timetable so that the job doesn’t interfere with my studies,” she said.
She was elected to the post of junior commissioner after coming out tops in a debating competition, that saw hundreds of pupils from 22 Eastern Cape towns competing against each other.
Andisiwe’s proud parents Nolukhanyo Sango, 35, and Andile Sango, 44, said their daughter had always displayed leadership skills from a young age.
Nolukhanyo said from their Kamvelihle home: “We have always encouraged our daughter to become anything in life, she wants to. We are proud of her and we want the best for her ”.
She said she first noticed her daughter’s determination and hard work after she brought home a computer she had won at a reading competition at school when she was 12.
“She always wins competitions and throughout her school career she has been a prefect and class leader,” she said.
The junior follows:
● Junior deputy provincial commissioner for policing is Ncebakazi Tshipisi from Port St Johns;
● Junior deputy provincial commissioner for crime detection is A Khayingana from Khowa [formerly Elliot];
● Junior deputy provincial commissioner for human resource management is Ngcwelekazi Dlanjwa;
● Junior deputy provincial commissioner for asset management is Miguel Nalle-Lepez;
● Junior deputy provincial commissioner for management intervention is Hloma Sidlova from Butterworth; and
●Mthatha’s Amahle Gladil is the inaugural crime intelligence provincial head.” — police top brass is as