Policewoman’s passion pays off
BRIGADIER Zandile Kunene’s passion for the force was evident even as a teenager.
She used to wear her brother in-law’s SAPS uniform around the house, unbeknown to him, while he was at work.
“I never imagined myself as anything else but a police officer,” she said.
The 50-year old is one of Kwazulu-natal’s men and women in blue who were honoured during the provincial commissioner’s service excellence awards in Durban on Friday. She took home the senior operational manager of the year award for her commitment not only in enforcing the law but several community upliftment programmes during the 2016/17 financial year.
“In her personal capacity, the officer donated R10 000 towards the building of a church in Emazizini, Bergville. She adopted the church to improve engagements and partnerships between the community and the police,” said Brigadier Moses Faya during the awards ceremony.
Speaking to the Sunday Tribune on the sidelines of the event, Kunene, who is the ethekwini Inner North deputy cluster commander, said, “Being a public servant for me does not stop with just enforcing the law, but I try and serve the community in anyway that I can.
“I made a vow early on in my career that I would not turn a blind eye to the poor and the destitute,” she explained.
Kunene was one of 15 recipients of the service excellence awards.