Legacy Conversations – SAP Force – Sarie van Niekerk – Episode 3

Sarie van Niekerk was one of the very first female SA Police Force members. This episode is a brief background of female officers and her career. In 1972 she underwent basic training at the Police College. Already a university graduate, she became a student platoon leader. Sarie was then chosen with nine others to go through the highly specialist Security Branch training phases. Later on, she would become a lieutenant working in different units. Female officers were something brand new then. They were not all that welcome. It was a man’s world, and they were looked at with much suspicion. Thus, they had to excel above what was expected from the men and they did.
A fascinating story that continues with pressure on Sarie to resign from the police after the birth of her daughter, Natasja. Soon after returning to work, the police found a newborn baby in a dustbin. Something that shocked her. She tells us about the gradual deterioration of her marriage. This is living history to be found nowhere else.
After her police years, she became a well-known journalist, that journey is also recorded here. Today she is the editor of the Female Nongqai Magazine where memories are kept alive. If you have questions for Sarie, leave them below. Please subscribe and activate the bell to be informed of new episodes since there will be many more.
Links:
Name of FB page "Suid Afrikaanse Polisievroue 1972 tot 1996"
SA Mirror: https://www.samirror.com/nongqai-latest-editions.html
Nongqai Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/nongqai
Sponsor - www.georgemjames.com
Website - www.legacy-conversations.org