SAPS Acting Commander, Captain Peaceful Kunene, is motivated by solving serious crimes and finding closure for victims who have been brutally traumatised by violent crimes such as gender-based violence.
Captain Kunene is currently steering the ship at the Ladysmith Forensic Science Service and Criminal Record Centre’s unit and keeps her “crimefighting fingers” on several pulses of the units which fall within the 16 stations of the uThukela District. “I want to be part of the change and by doing so, I must work to see the change,” said Captain Kunene. She said that she would like to see women walking freely in the streets with confidence in 2030, without any incidents of rape or murder being committed against women and children. Captain Kunene told The Ladysmith Herald during an interview that she had been completely obsessed with watching crime documentaries from a young age. “How police work with evidence from crime scenes, like fingerprints, to catch the culprit, interested me.” She added that this was the number-one factor and motivation that had ignited her passion for solving crime and pushed her to become a woman in blue. “Service is what we provide and being a woman in blue is not going to compromise my work, in fact, working hard and ensuring that my community is safe is my only number-one priority.” Captain Kunene joined the SAPS in 2011 as a forensic facilitator and worked tirelessly achieving experience and knowledge to climb the ranks. “Myself and my fellow officers have worked on brutal scenes, but this has not stopped me from moving forward, to find the criminals at large and bring them to book.”
She is originally from Mtubatuba, a town north of Richards Bay, and believes that leaders and SAPS officials like herself, should set the example for young women and even girls. “We must remind them that they are powerful and more than enough to reach their goals and find within themselves the equality that we all so richly deserve.” Captain Kunene said that women must break the stigma that they need to be dependent on someone else, and should only rely on themselves. “You and you alone are responsible for yourself and by working hard, setting goals and more hard work, you can achieve it.” She would like to one day see herself working among top management and believes that she has what it takes. Her no-nonsense attitude is clearly visible as her units work towards making Ladysmith and surrounding areas safer, not only for women and children, but for men as well.
