Edition December 2024 / January 2025

Sergeant Nombi Bokamoso Peter has managed to rise above being a rape statistic to being recognised as a heroine for bringing justice to victims of the pervasive scourge of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) in Thaba Nchu, in the Free State.

Peter experienced a traumatic ordeal when she was just nine years old in the dusty street of Gladstone, a village in the mountainous town.

She used this as motivation to dedicate her life to protecting others.

She currently works as a detective in the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Investigations (FCS)
unit of the South African Police Service (SAPS) in the Free State. She is also attached to the Manguang District Serial Rapist Task Team.

Speaking to Public Sector Manager (PSM) magazine, Peter said growing up – especially after her ordeal – she wanted to pursue a career in the safety and security, and legal sectors.

“I did not specifically want to work in the police service, but I wanted to be in the law enforcement or justice sector,” she reminisced.

Growing up in a community with pervasive levels of GBVF served as an extra motivator for Peter.

“I grew up in an area where the abuse of children and woman was a norm. Even I was a victim of rape when I  was just nine years old. I always wanted to be the voice of the voiceless,” she told PSM.

Working as a detective in the FCS unit is not easy for the 41-year-old Peter.

“As a survivor, you ask yourself so many questions, including how the police are going to treat me. For me, resolving a case and seeing a person closing a painful chapter in their lives gives me great joy,” she said.

Career journey

She took PSM through a journey, from when she completed her matric in 2002 to the current position that she occupies.

Driven by a passion to work in the law enforcement and justice sector, Peter enrolled for a law degree at the University of South Africa (UNISA). Two years into the journey, she changed route after she was recruited in the SAPS’s basic police development learning programme.

The 24-month long programme enables newly appointed police officials to use a series of legal and policing skills to protect and serve community members in accordance with the Constitution of South Africa, 1996.

It also provides a more effective service that will improve community satisfaction and position them to fulfil their mission of creating a safe and secure environment for all who live in the country.

Determined to reach her ultimate goal, Peter has over the years gone on to obtain various qualifications in the field, including a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Forensic Investigation and a Diploma in Policing, both from UNISA. She also holds a Human Resource Management Diploma from Motheo TVET College.

She officially began her journey as the member of the SAPS in 2009, and has since flourished, with her receiving considerable recognition from across the board.

In her policing career, she managed to put 32 criminals to time in prison, some of whom are serving life sentences. In total, these criminals will serve 330 years in prison.

In September 2024, her skills as a sleuth saw a serial rapist that could be linked to four cases successfully prosecuted and sentenced to serve more than 30 years in jail for incidents dating back to 2017. The rapist, Vuyisile Jackson Mamokgwe (24) was successfully linked through DNA in December 2022. In this case, Peter had to start the investigation process to trace the victims, arrest the suspect and prepare evidence to ensure the successful prosecution of Mamokgwe.

The sergeant, working with Prosecutor Azola Key from the National Prosecuting Authority, managed to lead evidence in the Bloemfontein Regional Court in order to secure a successful conviction.

The suspect was found guilty on all four charges and was sentenced to eight years for each case after he pleaded guilty, totalling to 32 years direct imprisonment.

The sentences will not run concurrently and he was declared unfit to possess a firearm. His name was also added to the register for sexual offenders.

Reward for excellence

During the 13th South African Heroine Awards Ceremony that were held in Sun City at the beginning of November, Peter emerged as the overall winner in the legal sector category. She was honoured for her role in putting perpetrators of GBVF behind bars for crimes against women, children and vulnerable groups. The award ceremony is held annually to honour and celebrate women who are making a difference in society.

She said the accolades was a testament to the hard work the FCS unit was trying to do in the Free State.

“Getting accolades like these means our work as police officials is being recognised. It means we are taking our victims very seriously, and that victims can trust us when they report cases. That is all that we want... to serve and protect and be recognised at the end of the day,” she said.

“Our job is straightforward. What I love the most about it is that it gives me closure, remember I was a victim of rape myself. My case was never reported to the police, my mother was told to not tell my father about what happened to me. For me, it is therapy. I am a Christian with a deep love for God so this gives great healing,” she explained.

However, she admitted that the recognition is not an invite for her to rest on her laurels.

“I want to do more for victims of GBVF. I want to put more rapists behind bars,” concluded Peter.