The new commander at Strand Police Station is ready to take on crime and wants to work more closely with the community.
Colonel Khunjulwa Khanyile, who started her career in 2004 at Wellington Police Station, has worked at various police stations across the country. She says that the sole purpose of the police is to serve the people.
In 2010, Khanyile was a warrant officer, promoted to captain in 2015 and she made lieutenant-colonel in 2018 before her promotion to colonel in 2022.
“I have learnt every community is diverse,” she said. “I have learnt a lot about how the community assists the police in fighting crime. Community partnership policing is what it is called. This puts the police in a better position to fight crime.”
Khanyile started in her new role as station commander on 24 January, and has since met a lot of people who are assisting the community in fighting crime.
“I have met the Strand Community Policing Forum, Strand Patrol and Strand Neighbourhood Watch. They have all pledged their support. But to be honest we need more community engagements. More people need to join their neighbourhood watches. We need more eyes and ears on the ground.”
She said if people have a strong support structure behind them it makes it easier for them to do their job.
“Strand currently has issues with gangsters and the crime they commit and another big one is property-related crime.”
Khanyile mentioned theft of motor vehicles and theft out of motor vehicles were on the increase.
“The buzzword now is community,” she said. “That is why we are appealing to people who want to become reservists to do so by all means, because we currently have a shortage of reservists.”
When not in a uniform the station commander loves spending time with her family.
“My number one tip for youngsters who one day want to have a career as a police officer is to take notice of who your friends are.”
She said peer pressure has a negative role on the lives of young people.
“I always love saying: ‘Show me your friends and I will tell you who you are.’ It speaks so much trust because youngsters have got themselves into big trouble by following what their friends are doing. If you love the police and are striving to become an officer then you should join the police force only if you love people and love assisting them – because we are all just public servants.”
