Jun 6, 2010 12:00 AM | By Teneshia Naidoo
The newly appointed head of the police's Pietermaritzburg cluster is living up to her name.
BORN TO POLICE: Parbathie Maharaj, the new major-general of the Pietermaritzburg cluster Picture JACKIE CLAUSEN
Major-general Parbathie Maharaj, whose first name means "enemy of the unjust", will oversee 13 police stations and specialised courts in the KwaZulu-Natal capital.
The appointment was announced by provincial commissioner Mamunye Ngobeni this week.
Maharaj, who started her career more than 30 years ago as a clerk, said she was "elated".
"I believe it's hard work, and I have always been a go-getter.
"In order to gain, you have to put in a lot of hard work, and, for me, my greatest thanks and apprecia-tion go to my parents. They laid a very strong foundation for me," she said.
The mother of two said even though she had experienced challenges as an Indian and a woman, she had persevered.
"If I can't climb the mountain, I will go around it," she said philosophically.
Maharaj, who was previously a brigadier at Pietermaritzburg police station, said her solution to crime was to engage in projects with organisations such as Religions Against Crime and the Department of Education.
"I also believe the criminal justice system needs to look at the seriousness of crimes against any living soul, so that such perpetrators are given life imprisonment for violating the rights and privacy of any other person."
She said women could play a major role in mobilising against crime.
In 1990, she became the first woman to receive a BA police science degree and is now working towards her doctorate.
Maharaj said it was sad that a "minority" of police officers involved in corruption had given a bad name to the majority of good officers in the country. She believed her manner of approach earned her the respect of fellow officers when she served as station commander.
"I command respect, I don't demand it, I lead them by the hand and give them guidance to be effective.
"You have to lead by example. Rather walk the talk with your members. I have always lived by the motto 'Labour with love'."
Sunday Times
Comments by Sonny
Sounds like a good profile for a professional policewoman.
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