Constable Nsuku Mathonsi was honoured for her legendary athleticism during Women’s Month.
Constable Nsuku Mathonsi at work.
Like all rural girls, Constable Reanoldar Nsuku Mathonsi grew up playing house, played with dolls and broke bones on her tiny body.
In a flash, she grew up to become a nimble-footed athlete who has enriched her previous schools’ silverware cabinets with trophies and medals she won on the track and fields.
With all due respect to various politicians, freedom fighters, businessmen, philanthropists, gurus, scandalmongers, writers, artists, and so forth, Mathonsi was given a standing ovation when South African Police Service honoured women who have shattered the imaginary glass ceiling.
She was hailed for her athleticism at a Women’s Month ceremony to celebrate women in blue who are not only ‘movers and shakers’ in their respective fields, but who go above and beyond the call of duty.
Constable Mathonsi is an operator attached to the Public Order Policing (POP) Unit in Burgersfort.
Members of this unit are responsible for public order and the policing of public gatherings, major events and public protests. These members are trained in operational tactics and techniques, specifically designed to manage crowds.
Mathonsi’s mother knew her daughter was destined for great things when she first laid eyes on her and named her Nsuku which means ‘gold’, loosely translated from Tsonga.
She was the first female SAPS athlete to cross the Comrades Marathon finish line and completed her novice race in a time of 09:10:18 which earned Mathonsi the prestigious ‘Robert Mtshali’ medal.
This year, the SAPS had a total of 356 runners who participated in the ‘Ultimate Human Race’, 156 more runners than last year.
Mathonsi (28), who hails from Nsavulani Village in Giyani, joined the police service as a student constable in 2022.
She forms part of the very first batch of 10 000 trainees to have been recruited, selected and trained through PROJECT 10 000.
Over and above her duties, Mathonsi is also a long distance runner and represented the SAPS in a number of marathon races. “My love for running developed while I was undergoing the Basic Police Development Learning Programme (BPDLP) and been a member of the SAPS Limpopo Marathon Club ever since. Apart from police training, I hold an N6 Certificate in Building and Civil Engineering and I’ve being of service to my community. It has always been my dream and would not trade being a police officer for any other profession” said Mathonsi.
She went on to say “As a police officer I find fulfillment in keeping my community safe. So, I suit up, badge up, and get out there every day – restoring peace is the name of our game.”