As the country commemorates Women’s Month, the SAPS has joined the nation in paying tribute to women within its ranks. On Monday, the SAPS shone the spotlight on none other than the Northern Cape’s very own provincial commissioner.
AS THE country commemorates Women’s Month, the South African Police Service (SAPS) has joined the nation in paying tribute to women within its ranks.
On Monday, the SAPS shone the spotlight on none other than the Northern Cape’s very own provincial commissioner.
“Today, we introduce the nation to the provincial commissioner of the South African Police Service in the Northern Cape, Lieutenant-General Koliswa Constance Otola,” said national police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe in a statement released on Monday.
Under the headline “Meet the Northern Cape Provincial Commissioner who led the arrest of 860 illegal miners in a single operation”, provincial police spokesperson Colonel Cherelle Ehlers provided an overview of Lieutenant-General Otola’s career and achievements.
Lieutenant-General Otola assumed her role on August 1, 2022. She is responsible for overseeing and managing all uniformed police officers, detectives, crime intelligence and Public Service Act personnel across specialised units, 24 provincial components, five districts and 92 stations.
With over 35 years of service, she began her career as a detective in 1991 at the Detective Service in Berlin, Eastern Cape. She steadily rose through the ranks, becoming major-general in charge of Crime Detection in the Northern Cape in 2016, before taking on her current leadership position.
Under her leadership, illicit mining activities have faced a significant crackdown in the Province. In one operation, over 860 undocumented foreign nationals were apprehended for illicit mining in the Kleinzee area of the Namakwa District. This operation also led to the discovery of uncut diamonds and the confiscation of R1.6 million in cash in September 2023.
The fight against the drug trade has also seen progress, with 72 drug-related investigations recorded and over 4,000kg of drugs seized.
Lieutenant-General Otola remains actively involved in overseeing and managing Operation Shanela. So far, the operation has led to the arrest of 57,659 individuals, including 2,843 undocumented foreign nationals.
Poachers targeting the Province’s precious endangered species have also been thwarted under Lieutenant-General Otola’s watch. Recently, five poachers were caught with endangered plants worth R2.7 million in their possession.
Detectives have secured 27 life sentences, with 23 of these for crimes against women and children in the past financial year. More recently, a hijacked truck was recovered, resulting in the arrest of six perpetrators and the confiscation of stolen goods worth over R2 million.
Lieutenant-General Otola has meanwhile pledged to “continue to serve the community of the Northern Cape with vigour, equality and objectivity”.
She is a “devout prayer warrior who conducts herself with compassion and composure”.
Her message to upcoming female leaders is: “Don’t be afraid of being outnumbered. Eagles fly alone. Pigeons flock together. Always aim for the stars.”
She holds a National Diploma in Police Administration and a B Tech Degree in Policing.
