High Tea with a purpose: SAPS women celebrate strength and solidarity  

Women in blue celebrated each other in style on Friday at an elegant event organised by SAPS Employee Health and Wellness (EHW) members held at the NG Kerk Brakpan Moedergemeente.

The theme of the event was High Tea Elegance, and the SAPS women honoured the invitation with dazzling crowns, stylish hand gloves, and pure sophistication.

The event also served as a late Mother’s Day celebration. Sergeant Fikile Zitha of the Brakpan FCS Unit and Captain Sara Mushaniki of the EHW were the day’s programme directors.

In attendance were Brakpan SAPS station commander Brigadier Johanna Ngoma, Brakpan Vispol support head Lieutenant Colonel Col Pearl van Staad, relief commanders Colonels Gladys Rapholo and Mpumi Ndlovu, and Lieutenant Colonel Prudence Molefe from Benoni VSS.

Different policing departments were represented, including Vispol, detectives and members in administrative and support roles.

The attendees enjoyed a full breakfast and later lunch with dessert, including soft drinks. The programme started with a prayer and a brief devotion after all guests were welcomed.

Warrant Officer Eva Mathunyane, a social worker in the EHW Unit, announced the purpose of the day, which she said was for women to celebrate one another and fix each other’s crowns

Before the motivational speakers took to the stage, the women received a heartwarming surprise performance by Captain Godfrey Booysen, who is the EHW chaplain.

Booysens played guitar and sang emotionally spiritual lyrics of comfort and God’s love and grace. During the programme, bullying and gossiping in the workplace were talked about.

The women were encouraged to never allow their circumstances to determine who they are.

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It was stated that gossip is a child of jealousy, and women can get themselves out of these pandemics through self awareness and mindfulness.

The women were further encouraged to stop shaming each other and instead fix each other’s crowns. There was also a farewell toast to Captain Charlotte Joubert, who is going on pension at the end of June after 36 years of service in the SAPS.

The keynote address was given by Ngoma, who encouraged unity among women in all spheres of life. She further emphasised that where there is unity, God’s blessings are always witnessed.

The brigadier advised the women to strive to be mothers who make their children proud to call them mother. She showed appreciation towards all women in blue and in all components. The brigadier closed with a reading from the Bible.

Sergeant Faith Ntuli, Brakpan SAPS Social Crime Prevention coordinator, gave a vote of thanks and made announcements before the programme was officially closed with a prayer.

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