The South African Police Service (SAPS) management announced the appointment of Major General Nomthetheleli Lillian Mene as the new Provincial Commissioner for the Eastern Cape with effect from, December 1.
Mene has been promoted to the rank of lieutenant general and takes over the reins from the former provincial commissioner of the Eastern Cape, Lieutenant General Liziwe Ntshinga, who is now the deputy national commissioner, responsible for crime detection.
Born and bred in Humansdorp, 56-year-old Mene brings with her a wealth of experience, having served in the SAPS for over 37 years at various levels in the Eastern and Western Cape.
The highly decorated and experienced law enforcer began her career in the SAPS in 1984 as a constable at the New Brighton Police Station in Gqeberha.
She steadily rose up the ranks and became one of the first female station commanders in 2000, when she was appointed to head the St Francis Bay police station in the Eastern Cape.
A seasoned station commander by profession, she has also served as a station commander for the Port Alfred police station and in 2009 she moved to the Western Cape where she became the station commander at Grabouw police station at the rank of senior superintendent (now colonel).
In 2010, she was promoted to the rank of brigadier, where she held the same position at the Stellenbosch police station. In 2015, she was transferred to Khayelitsha to hold the same post. In 2016 she was promoted to the rank of major general where she became the cluster commander for Worcester.
From June 2021, Mene has been acting as the deputy provincial commissioner, responsible for support services in the Western Cape.
Mene holds a B-tech degree in Policing from the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT).
The Acting National Commissioner of the SAPS, Lieutenant General Franscinah Vuma, said Mene’s appointment is a victory for the empowerment and advancement of women in law enforcement.
“Mene’s appointment is a victory for all women in law enforcement. Given her experience as a station commander at the grass roots level of policing, we are confident she will add value to the Eastern Cape. As we move towards prioritising women empowerment in the SAPS through the SAPS Women Empowerment Agenda 2018-2024, we commit ourselves to produce women with integrity and moral courage who will strive to uphold and enforce the law in a bid to build safer communities for the people of South Africa,” concluded Vuma.
