When I joined SAPS, I was 25yrs old, having given up finding decent work without tertiary education, then a friend told me SAPS was looking for females to join the ranks. I did not even knew where the police station was, I did not even know a person who was a policeman. Out of 14 shortlisted candidates, I was the only one from my area to be successful. The best part for me in joining SAPS is that it is where I met my husband, my 1st time to see and talk to him was 8th March 1985 in Pretoria. We got married in 1987 then the rest is history.
My biggest experience working in SAPS for so long is that I have been the VICTIM(I think so) of all the changes it has gone through. In 1985, because I am black lots of privileges were not for me, worse for being a woman had its own disadvantages (think being randomly called to pass urine so it can be tested for pregnancy). Then in 1995 we were amalgamated with TBVC states, then because you're not from the Transkei or wherever, promotions pass you(perception-you are a product of RSA). Then now the comrades took over, hey, now I'm not correctly politically connected, so here I am still studying wanting to prove myself. Don't get me wrong I LOVE being a policewoman!!
Monday, February 28, 2011
If I were the boss
If I were a boss at my organisation, I would be a boss for 170 Communication Officers throughout the Western Cape, some situated as far as Uniondale on the N1 route and some as far as Vredendal on the West Coast. If I were their boss I would try and meet with them at least twice a year in a form of Workshop where we will share best practices, experiences and build comeradie amongst communicators of SAPS.
I would also try at all Management meetings, to educate other managers how important Corporate Communication is for any organisation. At all times I will remind them that this component is not only for playing spindoctor, they should make use of it in all their projects and campaigns even if it is for support. If I were the boss, I will give all communicators resources, official cellphones, vehicles to attend crime scenes, offices (not sharing) computers with e-mail and internet access and Twitter and Blogger. Wow! If I were the boss, there is a lot I would do for this component which is regarded as the least important in the entire organisation.
I would also try at all Management meetings, to educate other managers how important Corporate Communication is for any organisation. At all times I will remind them that this component is not only for playing spindoctor, they should make use of it in all their projects and campaigns even if it is for support. If I were the boss, I will give all communicators resources, official cellphones, vehicles to attend crime scenes, offices (not sharing) computers with e-mail and internet access and Twitter and Blogger. Wow! If I were the boss, there is a lot I would do for this component which is regarded as the least important in the entire organisation.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Raising boys
As I have mentioned before, I have five boys but I'm writing about the three at home. When I was still buying clothes for them, I would go into the shop, first browse the girls clothes, then go to their section. I so much wished for a girl, though I think it was more about admiring their pretty clothes than anything as I was so inlove with my ' steps' (that is a term used when there is no significant gap inbetween your kids).
To me I think boys are more loving to thier mothers, they don't want to upset you or see you upset.
They are now all teens and above, there's girls, partying, school and other things, (check the order) sometimes I feel neglected, more especially when I invite them to go out and they say they have plans, Mhh, that makes me cross. When I really miss them I will even invite the girl to come along! Are all mothers this attached to their sons? One thing I pray for, when they get married, I must not interfere. To be honest, at the moment, I sometimes do interfere, not really interfere, but become curious about what happens in their relationships and I always get a suttle brush off. This is the life of being a MOTHER!!
To me I think boys are more loving to thier mothers, they don't want to upset you or see you upset.
They are now all teens and above, there's girls, partying, school and other things, (check the order) sometimes I feel neglected, more especially when I invite them to go out and they say they have plans, Mhh, that makes me cross. When I really miss them I will even invite the girl to come along! Are all mothers this attached to their sons? One thing I pray for, when they get married, I must not interfere. To be honest, at the moment, I sometimes do interfere, not really interfere, but become curious about what happens in their relationships and I always get a suttle brush off. This is the life of being a MOTHER!!
Two people come out of a building and into a story
This topic reminds me of a significance of a marriage. I know you are not married yet, but still I'll share my thoughts with you. After the lovers are married, is that really the beginning of a story, which is about the two of them, or is it still business as ussual, each one continue with his/her life as if nothing has happened? I believe it is the begining of a story for the couple, but that does not mean one should discard 'ubuyena'.
Experts in love say two people in the marriage should continue the courteship in order to spice up their relationship. This is true, but each must remember to give the other some space to breath and still maintain his/her identity and enjoy the things he/she loves.
The angle of the story the two people will create after coming out of a building (metaphor) really depends on how you they will treat each other. It could be a good story that will have a happy ending or the opposite. But this is meant to be a story with a happy ending. Marriage is beautifull, that is why we all want to experience it (with the exception of those without hope of getting there). Marriage is like a plant you buy from the nursery. It is beautiful and green with shinny leaves. If you buy and put it on top of your wall unit and forget about it, it will wilt and die. It will need you to take care of it, water it, sometimes take it out for fresh air. So is the marriage should be treated, the two people in it need to do exactly that, take care of it and it will flourish and you will have a beautiful story to tell your kids and grand kids. Wow, I hope I succeded in recruiting you to this wonderful institution!!
Experts in love say two people in the marriage should continue the courteship in order to spice up their relationship. This is true, but each must remember to give the other some space to breath and still maintain his/her identity and enjoy the things he/she loves.
The angle of the story the two people will create after coming out of a building (metaphor) really depends on how you they will treat each other. It could be a good story that will have a happy ending or the opposite. But this is meant to be a story with a happy ending. Marriage is beautifull, that is why we all want to experience it (with the exception of those without hope of getting there). Marriage is like a plant you buy from the nursery. It is beautiful and green with shinny leaves. If you buy and put it on top of your wall unit and forget about it, it will wilt and die. It will need you to take care of it, water it, sometimes take it out for fresh air. So is the marriage should be treated, the two people in it need to do exactly that, take care of it and it will flourish and you will have a beautiful story to tell your kids and grand kids. Wow, I hope I succeded in recruiting you to this wonderful institution!!
Monday, February 14, 2011
Career pathing
I have seen in my place of employment a number of people with good qualifications, but doing work that has nothing to do with their qualifications. I know when job advertisements are placed in media for operational members, the SAPS requirements is Std 10 i.e Grade 12. Mostly, people with tertiary qualifications apply and they are enlisted, undergo training and then come to work at different police stations.
What then happens is that a person with a National Diploma in Public Relations or Human Resource Management will work in the patrol van even after he/she is finished with two year probation period. This, I take as a waste of talent and skills. After training and probation people should be placed according to their skills and qualifications. I hope in future this will be rectified as there is a component called Career Management, they just need to intensify their functioning.
What then happens is that a person with a National Diploma in Public Relations or Human Resource Management will work in the patrol van even after he/she is finished with two year probation period. This, I take as a waste of talent and skills. After training and probation people should be placed according to their skills and qualifications. I hope in future this will be rectified as there is a component called Career Management, they just need to intensify their functioning.
Designer PR?
Where can I start?, Is there something like a designer in PR? Apparently, you can be a designer PR. According to Grace Bonney of Design Sponge, all you need is to master four aspects in order to be a designer PR in the specific field of publicity. She says, you need to know your product, know your publication, have your own press kit, the new trend is digital press kit and lastly you need to make contact with editors. Your contact with editors should be simple, remember you are selling a product and the story comes second.
Guys, to me this is everyday stuff, what I think is significant is that you must do things differently, put your own signature, then you can claim to practise designer PR. Interestingly I was at campus Mon,14th I was in one of the stalls, guess what pamphlet did I pick up? It was about having the most satisfying sex. The author says that there is something called Designer Sex, yes, designer sex. He/she says that designer sex is when you have one sexual partner. So Iam correct in designer PR you must be unique and not be like every PR Practitioner or Consultant!!
Guys, to me this is everyday stuff, what I think is significant is that you must do things differently, put your own signature, then you can claim to practise designer PR. Interestingly I was at campus Mon,14th I was in one of the stalls, guess what pamphlet did I pick up? It was about having the most satisfying sex. The author says that there is something called Designer Sex, yes, designer sex. He/she says that designer sex is when you have one sexual partner. So Iam correct in designer PR you must be unique and not be like every PR Practitioner or Consultant!!
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
I love my aunt
I was born out of wedlock, so I grew up at my mothers home. My grandmother and aunt took care of me. When I say they took care of me, I mean they fed me, clothed me and paid for my schooling. When unrests started in Port Elizabeth in 1986 my aunt sent me to a boarding school in Ciskei. There I studied till I passed my matric. When I passed matric my aunt was willing to send me to university, but because I saw how she was struggling I decided to look for a job and work.
When I got a job at South African Police Service, I left for training, leaving her staying with my grandmother, mother and other family members. When I was at SAPS training college I got my first salary of R565.00. I sent the R500 to her and kept the R65 for my personal use. I sent her this money for the whole 6 months I was at college. When I finished training I came back home and I was surprised when she told me that she bought a house for us (me and her) and she paid its deposit with the money I sent her, so we were now officially new home owners.
As I was staying with her, we worked hard to make our home beautiful, and she never demanded anything from me as a payback because she took care of me while I was young. I am still very attached to her. Oh, the other thing is that she does not have her own children, she never had them, and my mother also passed away in 1996. My aunt is my role model of a hard working parent, she is not selfish, what she did for me, she also did for my other cousins but I am the only one who is still attached to her. I am so greatful to her, I am who I am because of her. My family, that is me, my husband and children, we visit her or buy her airticket to visit our home in Cape Town for holidays. I really love my aunt.
When I got a job at South African Police Service, I left for training, leaving her staying with my grandmother, mother and other family members. When I was at SAPS training college I got my first salary of R565.00. I sent the R500 to her and kept the R65 for my personal use. I sent her this money for the whole 6 months I was at college. When I finished training I came back home and I was surprised when she told me that she bought a house for us (me and her) and she paid its deposit with the money I sent her, so we were now officially new home owners.
As I was staying with her, we worked hard to make our home beautiful, and she never demanded anything from me as a payback because she took care of me while I was young. I am still very attached to her. Oh, the other thing is that she does not have her own children, she never had them, and my mother also passed away in 1996. My aunt is my role model of a hard working parent, she is not selfish, what she did for me, she also did for my other cousins but I am the only one who is still attached to her. I am so greatful to her, I am who I am because of her. My family, that is me, my husband and children, we visit her or buy her airticket to visit our home in Cape Town for holidays. I really love my aunt.
I AM
I am Theodora Mngconkola, born in Port Elizabeth. I studied in Port Elizabeth, during 1986 when unrests erupted, my parents moved me to the Ciskei where I matriculated. I am an only child married to a family of 12 children who all have not less than four children each. After passing matric I joined the South African Police Service in 1985 which means I am 26 years in the Service. I am a mother of five boys, two are on their own, three still at home, of the three, two are at tertiary and the last born is doing matric this year. I am looking forward to my last born child finishing his matric because that means I am near retirement.
I am a Lieutenant Colonel in the SAPS, acting as Section Head for Community Relations. I am working harder so that I can be appointed at this position when it is advertised. Out of the 26 years in the Service, for 11 years I mostly did administration work. this is now my 15th year doing Communication. In all these years at Communication I have done Media Liaison, writing speeches for the Provincial Commissioner, doing exhibitions and organising events. According to my job description I am supposed to be doing only Community projects and campaigns, but I also do all Provincial events wherethere they are for Operational or Support Components.
When I retire in five years time I am going to still work just to keep myself busy. When I finish BTech I hope by then I will know what I would really like to do when I retire. I am definitely not going to be a grandmother who will stay at home looking after grandchildren, I am going to give back to my community all the knowledge and experience I have goined from being a Policewoman and from the academin qualifications I have obtained at CPUT.
I am a Lieutenant Colonel in the SAPS, acting as Section Head for Community Relations. I am working harder so that I can be appointed at this position when it is advertised. Out of the 26 years in the Service, for 11 years I mostly did administration work. this is now my 15th year doing Communication. In all these years at Communication I have done Media Liaison, writing speeches for the Provincial Commissioner, doing exhibitions and organising events. According to my job description I am supposed to be doing only Community projects and campaigns, but I also do all Provincial events wherethere they are for Operational or Support Components.
When I retire in five years time I am going to still work just to keep myself busy. When I finish BTech I hope by then I will know what I would really like to do when I retire. I am definitely not going to be a grandmother who will stay at home looking after grandchildren, I am going to give back to my community all the knowledge and experience I have goined from being a Policewoman and from the academin qualifications I have obtained at CPUT.
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