C A R E E R I DE AS
THE FUN POLICE
SERGEANT RENECIA AVONTUUR SECTOR MANAGER SAPS, MOWBRAY
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS PROFESSION? It sort of chose me… I wanted to join the army and went to the police station to get my fingerprints done, papers stamped and signed, but one of the sergeants there, who later became a ‘big brother’ / mentor to me, convinced me otherwise. So, I walked out with forms to join the police instead.
WHAT TRAINING DID YOU DO? In 2000, I started in Cape Town Central as a community patrol officer and did my basic police training. Two years later I decided to become permanent police and was transferred to Kraaifontein, where I did Crime Prevention and Complaints. But it was too dangerous, so I joined the Canine Unit. I did my Patrol Dog Handler’s course in 2006, and in 2008, my Explosives Dog Handler’s course. I went on to do the Canine Narcotics course in Pretoria. Three years ago I started at Mowbray Police Station as Section Manager. DESCRIBE A TYPICAL DAY I start with coffee, check my wall planner, do some admin, then you’ll have a walk in visitor and the day starts to go in all sorts of directions. The homeless people in the area sometimes come in with a tip-off. I brief my trusted colleagues and go on searches, finding things like
stolen property, drugs. My hours are from 7:30am-4pm/12am8pm/10pm-6am. A crime intelligence officer gives us a pattern analysis once every month and I plan according to that. I decide my hours and I put in my time.
WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST? I love the interaction with people. I missed that at the Dog Unit. WHAT DON’T YOU LIKE? People telling me what to do, and corruption. ANY HURDLES? Getting my job done while getting around corruption. It’s only a tiny handful of corrupt people, so we just have to keep doing what we are doing to stamp it out and serve the community.
commander and then you feel that you’re making a difference. The police also rewards you with long-service medals every ten years.
WHAT ARE YOUR FUTURE GOALS? I would like to keep doing courses like the next firefighting course and also, the Basic Ambulance Assistance course (paramedic line; three weeks). IS THERE A TYPE OF PERSONALITY BEST SUITED TO POLICE WORK? You have to be on a different level of crazy! You must be a strong person; be able to work with the community; you must be level-headed; be able to take a lot of stress, think on your feet and walk away in certain situations.
WHAT’S BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT? When the community thanks you. They send letters of recognition and thanks to you or your station
PLUGGED IN & SWITCHED ON WHAT TRAINING DID YOU UNDERGO AND WHERE DID YOU DO IT? I did an apprenticeship section 28 with ECA and Train All training centre in Cape Town.
ILUNGA JEAN PAUL MUAMBAYI ELECTRICIAN ELECTRO SURGEON
WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO FOLLOW THE TRADE AND BECOME AN ELECTRICIAN? I enjoy working with people and prefer being on the road than in an o ffi ce. There is always work available for electricians because itʼs one of the most common trades, and there is always a lot of growth potential when you work for a well-known company.
DESCRIBE A TYPICAL DAY ON THE JOB We mainly work on routine maintenance on electrical work in houses and small buildings – like plug points, light fittings, earth leakages, etc. Every day there is something different and we are always needed. WHAT ARE THE BEST PARTS OF THE WORK THAT YOU DO? I enjoy a good team spirit, and when a client is happy with my work, that makes me happy. WHAT ASPECTS OF THE JOB DO YOU LIKE THE LEAST OF ALL? I donʼt like it when sometimes a client thinks that they know what is wrong and overrun my decisions when Iʼm trying to fix
a problem for them, and then in the end realising that I did intend to do the right thing. This is why you really need to have a lot of patience and good social skills!
HAVE THERE BEEN HURDLES YOU’VE HAD TO OVERCOME? I have found that in this industry you have to keep your focus and be positive because when I started it was not easy. I did not get a lot of help and not many companies wanted to hire me because I hardly had any experience. WHAT HAVE BEEN YOUR CAREER HIGHLIGHTS SO FAR? When I resolve a problem that Iʼm working on by giving such great satisfaction to the ones who are really in need and I can look back and be proud of how much more experience I have gained over the years. WHAT ARE YOUR FUTURE GOALS? To find myself managing a big electrical company.
"There is always work available for electricians"
HOW DOES EXPERIENCE WEIGH UP AGAINST FORMAL TRAINING? The more experience you get, the better equipped you are mentally and physically. WHAT MAKES A ‘GOOD’ ELECTRICIAN? An electrician needs dedication, passion and a hard working ethos. ANY ADVICE FOR SOMEONE STARTING OUT IN YOUR CAREER? Always be willing to learn and take on new opportunities. Never ever give up! DESCRIBE YOUR WORK IN THREE WORDS Electrifying, Maintenance, Current
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