By Libuseng Nyaka
Ntswaki Sibaya
KERSTEL – Ntswaki Sibaya, 26, could not believe her luck when she was nominated to represent Free State in the prestigious Best Woman awards. Sibaya was nominated by the South Africa Police Service women network.
Still recovering from the excitement while savouring her nomination Sibaya said she was not driven by the prospect of winning awards but by the need to help less fortunate members of society.
“I am so happy that my colleagues are recognising my efforts. I will take this as motivation and a stepping stone to even greater things that touch people’s lives,” she said.
Sibaya said her life changed dramatically when she was raped 15 years ago. “When dealing with victims and elderly people who are mostly abused in different ways I put myself in their shoes. I have assisted many elderly people to get their pensions. I have also followed up on former offenders whom I encourage to keep away from crime. Engaging with these groups has made crime prevention effective as people are now opening up to the police and come forward to report crime.”
She also thanked the former Commander of Kerstel police Captain Mmantsamayeng Ramantsa who is now based in Bethlehem.
“Ramantsa would always encourage us to go beyond the call of duty to touch people’s lives. She preached what she practiced and I learnt a lot from her. As an administration clerk for detectives at Kerstel police station, I would always do public campaigns though sometimes I faced challenges of transport,” she said.
“But I always soldiered on. Apart from my designation I also help in crime prevention campaigns as well as assisting vulnerable people on how best they can access police services.” Sibaya was born and bred in Kerstel in a family of five children.