Nongqai Vol 17 No 10D – Lt-Gen Sharon Jeptha – A Pioneer in South African Policing

LIEUTENANT GENERAL SHARON JEPTHA

A PIONEER IN SOUTH AFRICAN POLICING

Keywords: Lieutenant General Sharon Jephta, South African Police Service, women of colour in policing, leadership, public service, South Africa

Abstract: Lieutenant General Sharon Jephta is a pioneering South African policewoman who served for 38 years. Born in Tiervlei on the Cape Flats in 1962, she joined the South African Police Force in Athlone in 1981 as part of the first group of women of colour admitted to the force. Her career began during apartheid and continued into democratic South Africa. Through dedication, education and professional development, she rose through the ranks and became a Lieutenant General. She held several senior positions, received numerous medals and retired in October 2019.

Lieutenant General Sharon Jephtha

(Researched, authored, edited and prepared for publication by Logan Govender – [LG].)

[LG]

“The Nation which forgets its defenders will itself be forgotten.”
– Calvin Coolidge

AUTHOR’S NOTE
Lieutenant General Sharon Jephta is recognised as one of South Africa’s pioneering women in policing. Her career lasted 38 years and covered two important periods in the country’s history: the final years of apartheid and the development of democratic South Africa. During this time, she served in both the South African Police Force and, after its transformation, the South African Police Service (SAPS).
Jephta was born in Tiervlei on the Cape Flats, now known as Ravensmead, in 1962. In 1981, at the age of 19, she joined the South African Police Force in Athlone, in the Western Cape. She was among the first group of women of colour to enter the police force, at a time when opportunities for women of colour in policing were limited.
Her career was built through experience, training, education and commitment to public service. She progressed through a number of positions of increasing responsibility and eventually reached the rank Lieutenant General. She also gained qualifications in policing, business and counselling and received several medals for her service.

Logan Govender

LIEUTENANT GENERAL SHARON JEPTHA

A PIONEER IN SOUTH AFRICAN POLICING

INTRODUCTION

Lieutenant General Sharon Jephta was born in Tiervlei on the Cape Flats in Cape Town in 1962. Tiervlei is today known as Ravensmead. She grew up during the apartheid era, a time when opportunities for people of colour, including women, were limited. Her early life on the Cape Flats shaped the beginning of a remarkable journey in public service. She represented her school in athletics. She married to a police officer in 1986-07-11, He retired in 1921 as a Lieutenant-Colonel He joined SAPS in 1986.

Athletes at Bishop Lavis, Training College. Sharon Jeptha 3^rd from left

“Four Jacks and a Jill”, during 1982 Trampoline display at the Passing Out Parade Bishop Lavis. Standing on front of combi is Lieutenant General JM Manuel

ENLISTMENT INTO THE SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE
On 20 July 1981, at the age of 19, Sharon Jephta joined the South African Police Force in Athlone, in the Western Cape. She was part of the first group of women of colour admitted to the police force. She completed her basic training at SA Police, Training College, Bishop Lavis from 20 July to 4 December 1981. Joining the police at such a young age was the beginning of a career that would span 38 years.

Constable Sharon Jeptha 1981 née Geldenhuys

HOOGTEPUNT

Prior to the Passing Out Parade during December 1981. Note Captain JM Manuel , Deputy Commissioner, South African Police Service

Bishop Lavis Training College Choir 1981. Sharon Jeptha, née Geldenhuys, 5^th from left

SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE

TRAINING COLLEGE

BISHOP LAVIS

PLATOON 1

July – December 1981

Attending a complaint in Bishop Lavis in 1983

Sergeant Jeptha on the police radio during 1983 in Bishop Lavis

The bride and groom, Sharon and Mogamat Jephta at their wedding ceremony on 1986-07-11

Lieutenant Denise Brand and Sergeant Sharon Jephta, Policewomen of the year Western Cape in 1989 during apartheid where a white and a woman of colour were nominated

After completing her training, she began her policing career at Mannenberg, where she worked shifts. Sergeant Jeptha later served as an instructor at the South African Police, Training College in Bishop Lavis. At Grassy Park, she worked as a Station Commander’s clerk to Colonel Van Der Riel and also performed shift duties before becoming involved in the Enquiry Branch later as a Warrant Officer.

Her husband, Mogamat Jephta

Her career continued to develop at Mitchell’s Plein, where she served as Branch Commander of the Enquiry Branch as a Lieutenant. She later became Head of Support Services and Head of Reactive Policing at the rank of Captain. Her career was built through practical experience, leadership, training and continued professional development up to the rank of Captain in the Police Force.
After her promotion to the rank of Major she also served as Deputy Station Commander through the REOP – (Reconstructive and equal opportunity Programme.) These positions gave her valuable experience in station management, administration, operations and community policing.

Media Clipping

(Courtesy Cape Flats Tabloid 1997

“On her way to the top”

Jephta later became Proactive Head at Phillippi as a Lieutenant-Colonel and then appointed Station Commander at the rank of Colonel at Phillippi in the West Metropole. She was the very first female station commander in the West Metropole. Her responsibilities continued to increase as she moved into senior operational positions. She served as Deputy Area Commissioner for Operational Services, in the rank of Brigadier with responsibilities involving Visible Policing, Detectives and Crime Intelligence.
She also served as Provincial Head of Human Resource Management, where her responsibilities included training and personnel management. She later became Provincial Head of Firearm and Liquor Control and Provincial Head of Crime Prevention. She was the Cluster Commander for Nyanga, Kuilsrivier, Wynberg and Worcester Clusters before being appointed as the Deputy Provincial Commissioner OCC and then Operational Services. Jephta spent 13 years in the South African Police Force before continuing her career in the South African Police Service. Her service therefore covered the final years of apartheid and the transition to democratic South Africa. When the police organisation changed from the South African Police Force to the South African Police Service, she remained committed to her profession and continued to accept greater responsibilities.
During her career in the Western Cape, she worked in policing for 35 years before moving into national senior leadership responsibilities became Deputy Provincial Commissioner for Visible Policing and later Deputy Provincial Commissioner for Operational Services. These were important positions that placed her in charge of major areas of police operations. Her career also included important achievements for women in policing. She was the first woman of colour in SAP Platoon 1. In 1995, she started Mothers Against Crime in Mitchells Plain in 1995.

In 1997, she established the first victim-friendly facility in SAPS just after she was appointed as the Station Commander at Phillipi which also served Hanover Park area. The initiative was sparked after the community was traumatised by the death of a 10-year-old girl that was reported missing and her body was found three days later in the wetlands. These achievements reflected her interest in community safety and support for victims of crime.

Jephta was also the first woman to serve as Deputy Area Commissioner Operational Services and Deputy Provincial Commissioner in the operational field in the Western Cape at the rank of Major General. Her career continued to progress until she reached the senior rank of Lieutenant General.
At national level, she became Divisional Commissioner for Inspectorate. She was the only woman in the history of SAPS to hold this position. She later served as Divisional Commissioner for Crime Prevention. She was also recognised as the only Coloured woman to hold the rank of Lieutenant General in the history of SAPS.
Education was an important part of Jephta’s professional development. During her career, she obtained a National Diploma in Policing and a Diploma in Community Policing. She also obtained a Master of Business Administration, (MBA) National Diploma in Community Policing which strengthened her knowledge of management and leadership. In addition, she qualified as a Life Coach and as a Couples and Family Counsellor at Udimy. After retirement she and her husband established The Jephta Foundation a Non-Profit Organisation that that focuses on overall wellness.

“A journey of Service Growth and Leadership”

After 38 years in policing, Sharon Jephta retired in October 2019. Her career had taken her from a young woman joining the police in 1981 to one of the most senior ranks in the South African Police Service. She had served during apartheid, remained in policing during the transition to democracy and continued to work in the transformed police service.

Sharon and Mogamat have two children: both in the arts. Their daughter Amy is a script writer, theatre and film director, film maker and son a Lecturer in Film scoring, Jazz musician, composer and film scorer. Both are Standard Bank Youth Artists of the year in their fields.

Son, Benjamin Jeptha

Daughter, Amy Jeptha

Sharon and Mogmat Jeptha in service for 73 years, partners for life

Journey of Service, Integrity, Commitment and Excellence

Her career is an important part of the history of women of colour in

South African policing. She entered the police force when opportunities for women of colour were limited and went on to hold senior operational and national leadership positions. Through training, education, experience and commitment, she built a career that lasted almost four decades.
Lieutenant General Sharon Jephta’s story is therefore one of long service, professional development and leadership. From her birth in Tiervlei in 1962, through her decision to join the police at the age of 19, her many policing responsibilities and her rise to Lieutenant General, her life in public service reflects a period of major change in South Africa. She retired in 2019 after 38 years of service, leaving a record that forms part of the history of the South African Police Service and the progress of women in policing.

MEDALS AND RECOGNITION
During her 38 years of service, Jephta received several medals and forms of recognition. Among these was

• Policewoman of the year Western Cape Province: 1989;
• The South African Police Service Gold Medal (SOEG) for Service Excellence, awarded to her by the Minister of Police in 2018;
• The South African Police Service Centenary Medal, the South African Police Seventy-Fifth Anniversary Medal;
• The South African Police Service Amalgamation Medal;
• The South African Police Service Ten-Year Commemoration Medal;
• The South African Police Service Soccer World Cup 2010 Support Medal;
• The South African Police Star for Merit for 30 years of loyal service;
• The South African Police Star for Faithful Service for 20 years of faithful service and exemplary conduct;
• The South African Police Medal for Faithful Service for 10 years of long service and exemplary conduct.

These awards recognised different periods and aspects of her long career and reflected her continued service to the police organisation.

Her principal of integrity was lived out in the workplace hence her clean record. She self-published her memoir “Serving with Integrity Commitment and Excellence”.

Front cover of the book authored by Lieutenant General Sharon Jeptha “Serving with Integrety, Commitment and Integrity“

Media Clipping

(Courtesy Weekend Argus)

Former Top SA Female cop speaks out about gender inequality in force in Chicago, USA

Her legacy extends beyond her retirement, as she continues to inspire hope and educate both women and men in the field of law enforcement. Jephta’s sterling record, unwavering integrity and dedication to mentorship programs for policewomen leave an enduring mark on the profession, her memoir “Serving with Integrity, Commitment and Excellence” offers an extraordinary account of women in policing, when SAPS and the country underwent profound social and political change.

She co-authored “Arrows In Our Quiver”” an honest discourse about the joys and challenges of raising children in a crooked and depraved generation. The book focuses on how they raised their children as police officers, finding the balance between work and home.

“#OURMENSEBREAKINGBARRIERS
The message behind #OurMenseBreakingBarriers is about recognising people who overcame obstacles and opened doors for others. Lieutenant General Sharon Jephta’s career reflects this message. She entered the police service at a time when women of colour were only beginning to gain opportunities within the organisation and went on to reach senior leadership.
Her contribution deserves to be remembered as part of the history of policing in South Africa and as a record of the important role women have played in public service.
Lieutenant General Sharon Jephta retired in October 2019 after 38 years of service. Her career remains a notable example of a woman who entered policing at a difficult time in South Africa’s history and continued to serve through a period of major national and institutional change.
“Born in Tiervlei on the Cape Flats in 1962, I joined the police in 1981 as the first group of women of colour. The only woman who was Divisional Commissioner ( DIVCOM) for Inspectorate in SAPS, the only Coloured female Lieutenant General in the history of SAPS.” – Lieutenant General S Jephta”

Acknowledgement

I wish to recognise and thank the Editor in Chief of Nongqai, Brigadier Hennie Heymans for his tireless, often unseen efforts in helping with the creation and publication of this magazine.

An experienced and highly skilled officer with an exceptional memory. His father served in the South African Police, stationed at Mount Edgecombe during the 1940s and later at Durban Central, Somtseu Road, and Rossburgh. The Brigadier holds a Master’s degree in Strategy. In 1964, he was stationed at Wentworth alongside Lieutenant-Colonel (Ray) Mathura Munilall. He also served at King’s Rest (now Brighton Beach), later as Public Relations Officer at Head Office, District Commandant at Welkom in the Free State Province, in the Soweto Region, and at ISU Headquarters.

I thank the following contributors : –

• Lieutenant General Sharon Jeptha;
• ALL photographs except for those otherwise mentioned were provided by Lieutenant General Sharon Jeptha;
• Finally my family, for their patience, encouragement, and understanding throughout the journey of researching, compiling and refining this tribute.

“Each day, millions of police officers do the selfless work of putting their lives on the line to protect civilians, frequently responding to or preventing crises completely with no recognition.” – Letitia James

“Agnoscere et honorare servientibus” –

“To acknowledge and honour those who served”

“Soli Deo Gloria” – “To God Alone Glory”

Logan Govender