SAPS Eastern Cape hosted a farewell function of the Eastern Cape Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Nomthetheleli Mene who is retiring at the end of the February 2025 after 40 years of excellence service.
Mene, who hails from Humansdorp, served as head of St Francis Bay police station in 2000 – this was the second post of her amazing career up the ranks.
The joyful and yet emotional event was held at Summit Lifestyle Centre on Friday, 14 February 2025. Among the attendees was the MEC for Transport and Community Safety Hon Xolile Nqatha, the National Commissioner General Masemola, the SAPS senior Managers and other distinguished guests.
In his keynote, MEC for Transport and Community Safety Hon Nqatha described the Provincial Commissioner as a strong woman in leadership. Eastern Cape had challenges in crime but she pulled through and ensured that her members are bringing the perpetrators to book, and that brought trust to the communities. He wished her well in the new journey that she will embark on as a retiree and encouraged her to look after herself.
The gifts were pouring like rain drops in bidding farewell to the Provincial Commissioner. To mention a few from the gifts was a frame with a General sword, a very modern refrigerator that came as a gift from Eastern Cape SAPS members.
The event was prestigious and it was witnessed by her family and her guests in a very jubilant manner that kept everyone awake.
In her reply, the Eastern Cape Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Nomthetheleli Mene thanked everyone and appreciated the efforts for making her farewell function a success and a memorable event.
While sharing her path in the SAPS career, she thanked the National Commissioner General Masemola for grooming her in the career of being the Provincial Commissioner. Even in the challenges that Eastern Cape was facing she felt his support and their intervention with the Minister of Police Mr Mchunu. She did not forget to appreciate the people who supported her through the journey as the Provincial Commissioner. She assured the audience that she will remain a Police Officer and her heart will always be blue as this is her only job she experienced in her life.
Major General Mene’s steady rise up the ranks…. (Source: SAnews)
Major General Mene took over the reins and became EC Provincial Commissioner in 1 December 2021, when she replaced Lieutenant General Liziwe Ntshinga who was in September appointed as Deputy National Commissioner (DNC) responsible for Crime Detection.
In the following statement at the time of Mene’s her appointment as EC Provincial Commissioner, the SAPS, Colonel Athlenda Mathe, said the 56-year-old Humansdorp born and bred would bring with her “a wealth of experience having served in the SAPS for over 37 years at various levels in the Eastern and Western Cape”.
Colonel Athlenda Mathe gave an ouline of said Mene began her career in the SAPS in 1984 as a constable at the New Brighton Police Station in Gqeberha.
“She steadily rose up the ranks and became one of the first female station commanders in 2000 when she was appointed to head the St Francis Bay police station in the Eastern Cape.
“A seasoned station commander by profession, she has also served as a station commander for the Port Alfred police station and in 2009 she moved to the Western Cape where she became the station commander at Grabouw police station at the rank of Senior Superintendent (now Colonel),” she said.
In 2010, she was promoted to the rank of Brigadier where she held the same position at the Stellenbosch police station. In 2015, she was transferred to Khayelitsha to hold the same post. In 2016, she was promoted to the rank of Major General where she became the Cluster Commander for Worcester.
From 1 June 2021, Major General Mene has been acting as the Deputy Provincial Commissioner (DPC) responsible for Support Services in the Western Cape.
Major General Mene holds a B-tech degree in Policing from the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT).
Acting National Commissioner of the SAPS, Lieutenant General Franscinah Vuma sin the statement said Mene’s appointment was a victory for the empowerment and advancement of women in law enforcement.
“Major General Mene’s appointment is a victory for all women in law enforcement. Given her experience as a station commander at the grass roots level of policing, we are confident she will add value to the Eastern Cape province.“
