The first female SA Police Service (Saps) Special Task Force member, centre, at the passing out parade for 21 newly qualified members at the Saps Academy Tshwane in Pretoria yesterday.
The 31 year old from the Western Cape becomes the first woman to complete the Special Task Force selection training course with no amendments to accommodate her gender and become the only female member of the Special Task Force so far.
Organisation will continue to empower and recognise women, says general.
Athirty-one-year-old constable has become the first woman to complete the South African Police Service (Saps) Special Task Force (STF) selection training programme in the history of the organisation.
"The member with 11 years' service is regarded as the only female police officer to have successfully completed the STF training programme without any amendments to the training to suit women," said police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe.
"She is also the only female police officer serving in the unit as an operational member."
Yesterday, she formed part of a platoon with 10 male police officers who were bestowed with their STF parachute wings by national police commissioner General Fannie Masemola.
STF parachute wings are awarded to members who have completed the STF selection training programme.
"The STF parachute wings are worn on the left chest and signifies that the recipient has been trained to a high level of skill in weapon proficiency, advanced paramilitary rural tactics, advanced tactical policing for high-risk incidents, hostage release tactics in a variety of high-risk incidents, as well as the ability to deploy operationally by parachute into rural environments," said Mathe.
Also on parade were an additional 10 STF members who were bestowed with their operators badge after undergoing a two-year probation period, during which they were already serving as members of the elite unit.
The female police officer from the Western Cape – whose identity may not be revealed for security reasons – said the momentous achievement must be a motivation for other women who continue to break barriers in male dominated environments.
