MONTAGU – She started her career as a data capturer in the South African Police Service and within a relatively short period became a police officer.
This is the remarkable success story of Unathi Mdunusie (32), Principal Personnel Officer at the Montagu Police Station, who was recently promoted to police captain.
The civilian employee-cum-high ranking police officer hails from Mbekweni, Paarl and joined the police service on 1 February 2012 in Saron, a small town at the foot of the Saronsberg in the Tulbagh district.
She was appointed at entry level 3 as a data capturer at the Saron Police Station. Then in 2014, several members of the police affiliated to the Public Servants Association of South Africa (PSA), of which she is a member, were moved to level 5, enabling her to move her career to another level.
She was transferred from data capturer to administration clerk at Saron’s Human Resources Office when a post became available.
She worked there until the end of July 2016.
On 1 August that year she climbed the ladder of success again, when she moved to level 7 and was transferred to Montagu, where she became Human Resources Manager.
Then at the beginning of this year, lady luck was at her side once again, when she was promoted to captain on 1 January.
The married mother of three applied for the advertised captain’s post at Malmesbury Police Station and was pleasantly surprised to learn of her success after her first attempt.
She said: “It was a very fast move for me. Because from the time I started in this organisation I heard and see people who remain here for quite a long time as sergeants or warrant officers.
“I was extremely excited when I got the news. I couldn’t believe it when the call from a colleague in Ceres, who told me I was being promoted, came. I didn’t expect to be.”
Despite her relatively short career in the police service Mdunusie is quite confident she will be able to face the challenges and responsibilities that come with her new promotion.
She intends to enrol in a short officer’s course to improve her knowledge and skills of being a police officer.
On 1 February she will celebrate her 10th year in the police service, on the very day she is due to take up her post as head of Human Resources Manager at Malmesbury Police Station.
