As South Africa celebrates Women’s Month, the spotlight shines on the remarkable women in the South African Police Service (SAPS) who are making significant strides in policing. Among these trailblazers is Lieutenant General Maropeng Johanna Mamotheti, the Divisional Commissioner for Visible Policing and Operations, who has dedicated 36 years to the force.

Lt. General Mamotheti, who began her career as a student constable in 1987, now leads over 19,000 officers in various crucial units, including Public Order Policing, Tactical Response Teams, and Border Policing. Since her promotion in March 2024, she has been instrumental in strategic crime prevention, focusing on visible policing and operations.

Throughout her career, Lt. General Mamotheti has held several key positions, including Deputy Provincial Commissioner for Support Services in the Northern Cape and Component Head for Social Crime Prevention. She is particularly noted for her success in managing firearms control, where she significantly reduced the backlog in firearm licensing and oversaw the destruction of over 263,000 illegal firearms.

Her leadership is a testament to the growing influence of women in policing, as she continues to make South Africa safer, reinforcing the essential role of women in law enforcement. Lt. General Mamotheti's academic achievements, including a BTech in Policing and a Bachelor of Commerce in Human Resource Management, further underscore her commitment and expertise in the field.

As Women’s Month progresses, Lt. General Mamotheti's story serves as an inspiration, highlighting the critical contributions of women in the SAPS and their impact on the safety and security of the nation.

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