Women Empowerment drives were conducted in all nine Provinces including Head Office to motivate women to seize opportunities available to them
- The SAPS Women Network was established in 2003 (existing gender structures were merged with the network).
- Women Network Champions were nominated to lead the Network and facilitate all activities that highlight contributions of women towards the strategic objectives and budgetary programmes of SAPS.
- A leaflet was developed and circulated in all salary advices of members to inform them about the objectives and functions of the SAPS Women Network.
- A dialogue to engage other stake holders in the JCPS cluster, business sector and NGO’s was convened by SAPS and has indicated commitment of the Network on reducing contact crimes as indicated in the Cabinet Lekgotla.
- The Women Network Charter was launched by the Deputy Minister in May 2005 which indicate the commitments, objectives and the functioning of the Network. This launch again involved stakeholders of the JCPS cluster.
What is Women’s Network
- The network aims to –
- forge strong bonds between women in the SAPS;
- ensure that women in leadership positions help mentor those at lower levels; and
- ensure that women see themselves as equal to their male counterparts. This will enable them to establish cooperation between all employees, thereby improving service delivery.
OBJECTIVES
- To provide a strong support network structure for women employees in the SAPS
- To facilitate the career advancement of women through leadership training programmes
- To develop an assertive cadre of women leaders capable of independent thinking, thereby contributing to quality service delivery
- To market career opportunities for women in all occupational categories and at all levels in the SAPS in an attempt to develop a fully representative workforce; and
- to align women’s network activities to government initiatives with a view to improving the overall quality of women’s lives.