Spearheading in a Male Dominated Space.
- intel3063
- Oct 29, 2023
- 3 min read
By Tshegofatso Ramaphoko
From the land of mines and dusty streets of Marikana in Rustenburg she found herself growing splendidly in the world of policing. Despite her being a woman in what is considered as a male dominated area Dinah still thrives through all challenges she comes across.
Dinah Evah Tabane was born on the 5th of June in 1970 at Marikana in Rustenburg. She grew up in a family of nine siblings but unfortunately only four now. She attended her first primary in Marikana at Maruatona Primary School in 1979. She furthered her studies and completed her matriculation at Rakgahla Secondary School in 1990. As a God fearing and single mother to a daughter and two sons, she mentioned that during her spare time she enjoys watching television.
Her policing journey started while she was in matric when her high school friends told her one Saturday that the Rustenburg Police Station was recruiting new police officers. Dinah mentioned that she did not necessarily dream of being a policewoman however she went with her friends to apply for the post.
“It was during our mock tests in matric when my friends heard of this opportunity that Rustenburg Police station is recruiting. We were given allowance transport as local residents near the mines to town so I went with my friends because they said I should tag along too”, said Colonel Tabane.
Tabane mentioned that when her and her friends arrived at the Rustenburg Police Station, she did not hesitate to complete the application forms. Shortly after her completing her matric in 1990, Tabane was accepted in South African Police Service the following year in 1991 and now is appointed as a Visible Policing Commander at Rietgat Police Station in Soshanguve.
She mentioned that her journey growing in the South African Police Service was a smooth one. However, she met difficult challenges such as when she was arrested for 17 charges she did not know of and was then suspended for six months in 2014. However, she considers this challenge as one of the wake-up call she got from her ancestors that she needed to go to an initiation school for her calling.
Colonel Tabane mentioned that other challenges she faced in her line of work was being undermined and estimated because she is a woman in a male dominated area. As a 12years experienced Visible Policing Commander since 2011 and Acting Station Commander, Colonel Tabane has a duty to foresee and manage the station where at times she faces challenges of getting people to do their job gets to her being undermined.
She considers herself as a disciplined leader than a boss because of how she interacts with her colleagues. She mentioned that she inspires her colleagues by helping them execute their job perfectly in showing them how to do their work other than demanding, directing, and taking credit alone.
One of her colleagues who works under her management Captain Stephen Maluleka mentioned that working with Colonel Tabane has been great ever since they started working together from February 2022. “I started working with Colonel Tabane at the cluster level but closely here at Rietgat SAPS, we started working together last year. And working with her is quite refreshing because she allows one to be creative in carrying out duties”, says Captain Maluleka.
In wishing her greatest in her career path Captain Maluleka continued to describe Colonel Tabane as a go to person who is going far in her career and an encouraging leader who prioritises her work to a point where she goes beyond call of duty. However, Caption mentioned that one thing he would change about Colonel Tabane is not how strict she is with work but her beautiful heart. “If I were to change one thing about her, I think I would reduce her sympathy and a bit of her impatience at times” said Caption Maluleka.
Colonel Tabane mentioned that she hopes to see change in the South Africa Police Service so that women can get recognised as ‘Women in Policing’ more. “I am happy to see more women in senior position in the South African Police industry, but I would be happy if we get more recognised as women in this field, so we also help other juniors to get to the senior positions so that we cut the idea of male domination for balanced domination”, says Colonel Tabane.
Tabane is now furthering her studies with Stadio Higher Education doing Bachelor’s Degree in Policing Practicing. And hopes to be promoted to Brigadier in policing one day through her hard work and self-motivated spirit. “To young girls out there be yourself and keep yourself motivated and do not let these challenges change who you are it is tough, but you can do it”, said Colonel Tabane.
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