Police action in response to gender-based violence, illicit mining and the theft of copper cables will be a priority, says Lt. Gen. Koliswa Constance Otola.
Otola was announced as the Northern Cape provincial police commissioner on 1 August.
Her appointment in this position is the first since Lt. Gen. Risimati Shivuri, the previous commissioner, retired in 2019. Otola served as acting provincial police commissioner since May.
Describing her vision for the way forward, Otola indicated that addressing and curbing the mentioned crimes would require collective and concerted efforts from government, churches, businesses and the community at large.
Otola has been a member of the SAPS since 1989 and was promoted to the rank of sergeant after three years.
From there she gradually climbed the ranks and was promoted to the rank of brigadier in 2013.
She has a national diploma and BTech degree in Policing.
Previously, she served as deputy provincial police commissioner in the Northern Cape, with crime investigation as part of her responsibilities.
Her appointment comes as the country observes Women’s Month, Col Mashay Gamieldien of the police’s corporate communication and liaison office in the Northern Cape said.
The minister of police, Gen. Bheki Cele, the premier of the Northern Cape, Dr Zamani Saul, as well as the national commissioner, Gen. Fannie Masemola, were present in Pretoria during the announcement of Otola’s appointment.
This announcement was done in addition to the introduction of the first ever deputy national commissioner responsible for policing, Lt. Gen. Tebello Mosikili, and the new divisional commissioner for supply chain management, Molefe Fani.
- Otola is the third female police commissioner appointed in the Northern Cape. The first was Lt. Gen. Miriam Mbombo, who was in office from 2005 to 2010, and the second Lt. Gen. Janet Basson, who served in this post from 2011 to 2016.
