A no nonsense leader
2010-08-12
Lise Beyers
THEY say that dynamite comes in small packages. And that is true if one takes the Paarl police station commander, Brigadier Sharon Govender, into the equation. Govender has been at the helm of the Paarl police for more than a year now and in that period of time she has had her hands full, not only enforcing her high standard of policeing on the station, but also having the honour to be appointed the co-chairperson of the 2010 World Cup operational team in the Western Cape. Govender’s career in the police force started when she was appointed as an administrative clerk in her home town of Durban. She was then one of a handful of female Indians who were allowed to join the South African Police in 1982, in the heart of the apartheid years. Govender has since then played various roles in the force, including that of instructor, investigator and communications officer, before her first posting as station commander at Maydon Wharf in Kwazulu/Natal. Hereafter she was transferred to the Western Cape, where she has been at the helm of Brackenfell, Table View and Steenberg police stations, before taking over the reins in Paarl. But what drives a petite wife and mother of two to achieve such achievements in what used to be a man’s world? “I have never been intimidated about being a woman and the crux of the matter is to get the job done. I lead by example and am not afraid to get my hands dirty.” Govender admits that everybody can make mistakes, but what makes one the bigger person is to admit to them. And she does not shy away from this. Her approach to combating crime is commitment and visibility. “Everybody has a role to play and in doing so they can all make a difference. My officers know that I hold them accountable for their actions and that I expect them to perform at their best at all times. “The police force is like a business, and each and everyone involved has an important role to play. We are here to offer a service to the community and I am deeply committed to this.” The World Cup was a memorable experience for Govender. “It was hard work from the beginning to co-ordinate this huge event and to pull out all the stops to make it a crime-free event. And I am happy to say that we succeeded in our task. “I will always have fond memories of the wonderful atmosphere which prevailed throughout the country during that month. For once we all stood together.” And back at her post in Paarl, Govender is dedicated to combat crime in the area. Her current target is that of social crimes which are often committed in the farming areas, due to social circumstances. As for service delivery, Govender would like to be the first person to hear a complaint from the public. “I invite the community to contact me personally and to speak out if they are not satisfied about my officers’ performance. My door is always open.”
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