Publications
Partners
The killing of police officers in the township in the 1980s spurred Leah Shibambo on to join the police force. She was 19 in 1986 and community service has been her life since.
Today Shibambo, affectionately called Dr Leah (she holds a PhD), is the head of Department at the Stadio School of Policing and Law Enforcement.
READ: Anna Mokgokong | The qualities of women who make a difference
After matriculating in 1985, Shibambo went straight into policing. “After being hired as a constable in 1986 I went on to study while working,” she told City Press.
Studying part-time, she qualified as a social worker after obtaining a bachelor of arts degree in social sciences through Unisa in 1991.
Shibambo was born in White City Jabavu in Soweto.
One of South Africa’s top influential police officers, with more than 30 years’ experience in law enforcement, the 48-year-old is today blending policing and academia at Stadio, which trains the country’s police officers.
Stadio Higher Education is a private institution offering degrees in humanities, education, policing, arts, fashion and design, and law. It opened in 1998 as a subsidiary of Curro Holdings, a service provider of preschool, primary and high school education, and has campuses in Johannesburg, Pretoria and Cape Town. It is no longer a subsidiary of Curro Holdings.
After she joined the force as a constable she went on to become a police sergeant and was promoted to the unit commander of social workers in the SA Police Service (SAPS) in Soweto between 1986 to 2014.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
She is also the second vice-president of the International Association of Women Police (IAWP). The association represents more than 70 countries and 30 affiliate organisations, and forms a strategic network of global resources for women in policing internationally.
As the first African woman to hold the IAWP global position since 2018, Shibambo ensures that training for female police officers is both affordable and responsive to their needs.
“I am also one of the experts responsible for the roll-out of the handbook of responsive police services for women and girls subjected to violence.”
The highlight of Shibambo’s career was being one of only three South African women area commissioners in 2012. She said this inspired her to mentor other women in the SAPS.
She added,
When she retired in 2014, she held the rank of lieutenant general. She told City Press that this had been one of the most difficult periods in her policing career.
CHALLENGING TIMES
The former commissioner recalled how her SAPS career had been cut short after three decades when she was forced into early retirement. Shibambo and current Hawks head Godfrey Lebeya were controversially fired by then police commissioner Riah Phiyega during a restructuring process.
A court later ruled that their dismissal had been unfair and illegal.
“We took her [Phiyega] to court and the emotionally straining process took about two years. However, when we won the case, I was too hurt to go back to my job. It was very painful to go through that experience and I do not shy away from the fact that it forced me into early retirement,” she said.
Shibambo soon moved on when a better offer as a commissioner of the road transport inspectorate in the department of transport presented itself.
She worked there for six years before she joined the National Traffic Law Enforcement as the executive manager of training and corporate services. This opened the door for her career in academia.
Shibambo became a part-time lecturer and external examiner of master’s and doctoral students in criminal law and police degrees with Unisa.
READ: Soweto matriculant scores 100% in maths
Her academic exploits include a PhD in leadership and change from the University of Johannesburg (2004) and a master’s degree of public administration from the University of Pretoria (1999). Her doctorate thesis focused on improving customer service in community service centres of the SAPS for crime victims’ benefit.
COMMUNITY SERVICE
She is the founder of an NGO called Zwonaka Wellness, through which she helps the community as a social worker in Shoshanguve and Hammanskraal in the City of Tshwane. Here she gets to live her passion for serving her community.
Shibambo focuses on youth-friendly programmes that support young women in HIV education, combating teenage pregnancy, as well as food relief and mentorship.
“I don’t think I’ll ever retire from community work; it has made me who I am. As long as I am alive, I see myself serving because I have found my purpose through being selfless and helping anyone I meet, on and off my work,” said Shibambo.
Having published several academic papers, she challenged herself to write a book.
Previously known as Leah Mofomme, Shibambo recently reverted to her maiden surname, following her divorce. The mother of two said her daughters opted for their own career paths.
“My daughters, aged 26 and 22, chose very different careers. They are in the arts theatre space and I have supported them to help them realise their dreams.
“I’m not the kind of parent who forces children to live [the parent’s] own dreams. I have realised my dreams and I support theirs. I love them so much, and having them was one of the things that challenged me to be a great example of what hard work means to them and their legacy.” The older one is a teacher and younger is still in varsity.
DAILY INSPIRATION
To keep sane through life’s challenges, Shibambo said she runs to stay healthy and fit.
“I belong to a running club; I love running for fun and dancing with my daughters who are also my best friends.”
READ: Riah Phiyega: Love, Life and Crimebusting
When she looks back on her humble upbringing in Soweto and her journey, Shibambo is happy to “testify that dreams do come true”.
Growing up under the apartheid regime, her generation had to overcome poverty, crime and racial discrimination. Her selflessness was shaped from a young age by her involvement in Sunday school at her local Evangelist Presbyterian Church in White City Jabavu.
“I grew up watching people suffer so I always wanted to have a positive impact on the lives of all those I meet, mentor and lecture. I don’t like seeing anyone suffer. I have to act on it, even if it’s from my pocket.”
- This profile was made possible by collaboration with Stadio Higher Education
