In the very heart of Gauteng’s Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality, where policing intersects with community development, stands a strong woman reshaping the face of what it means to serve with purpose, resolve, and passion for change. Dr. Jemina Modise, VIP Inspector for the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD), is not just one of the department’s highest-ranking officers, but also its first doctoral graduate – an honour predicated solely on grit, academic tenacity, and a hunger for representative government.
Humble beginnings, iron resolve
Born and raised in Randfontein’s Mohlakeng Township, Dr. Modise’s path to greatness was filled with adversity and reinforced by tough women who instilled in her the value of learning and determination.
“When my mother was retrenched in my primary school years, she made the brave decision to return to high school and later studied for a teaching degree,” she recalled.
“Watching her do that taught me that setbacks don’t define you – how you recover does.”
Inspired by her mother’s strength and spurred on by her aunt who paid for her first university registration, Dr. Modise balanced model work and study in her early years – building the confidence and self-reliance that would be trademarks of her leadership approach.
From Data Capturer to Frontline Enforcer
Her transition into the EMPD was by default. She worked for Labat Traffic Solutions as a data capturer and was working alongside the best of the metro police officers who noticed her driving and implored her to follow in their footsteps and join the police.
“One of the police officers said they started as a cleaner and worked their way up. That I remember. That made me realise that where you start is not where you finish.”
Dr. Modise arrived at the EMPD with a mission mentality. Her initiation was rough – adjusting to the rigid discipline, arduous working hours, and high expectations – but with the benefit of guidance, she matured into her position and discovered sisterhood in the team dynamics.
Over the years, she has had various positions; from metro police member to Research and Compliance, and now VIP Inspector in the protection services. Each assignment deepened her understanding of service, strategy, and how law enforcement addressed community needs.
The academic ascent
Her commitment to education did not stop there with her achieving a Doctorate in Business Management – the first for her department.
“I wanted to be an example, not just for my children, but for other colleagues and young women who needed to see that it could be done,” she said.
Her research on her PhD involved gender equality in the police force, specifically the underrepresentation of women in senior management roles.
“I developed a model for promoting women to leadership roles in metro police departments. It’s not theory – its change,” she asserted.
It was no simple task to find the time to work on the doctorate between full-time employment and raising a family.
“There were times I wanted to quit. But I’ve always lived by a simple premise: never begin something and don’t leave it undone.”
A new Vision for Public Service
Dr. Modise’s leadership approach shifted. She is one who believes in inclusive, ethical, and participatory governance.
“Being in local government makes you realize how close your decisions are to people’s everyday lives. Leadership has got to be rooted in accountability, empathy, and empowerment.”
With her doctorate in hand, she is poised to offer academic insight into meaningful reforms in the EMPD – from evidence-based decision-making to strategic capacity-building exercises. She envisions a department whose leadership pipelines are diversified and women empowered to lead.
Gender, service, and legacy
Navigating male-dominated areas in the public service and academia has not been easy.
“You prove yourself over and over again. But persistence, performance, and preparation will eventually get doors opened,” she said.
To young women, particularly from humble means, Dr. Modise says an emphatic message:
“Your circumstances don’t define your potential. Education, courage, and consistency will take you places your circumstances never dreamed of.”
Her academic achievement is not just personal. It’s symbolic – a milestone for local government and policing diversity.
“I want people to know that public servants can be thinkers too. That change needs to come from within.”
What’s next?
Far from resting on her achievements, Dr. Modise is already preparing for her next step. She intends to publish her work, mentor young professionals, and give back to leadership development programs in and beyond Ekurhuleni.
“Mentorship is personal to me. It made all the difference in my journey. Now it’s my turn to lift others.”
If given the opportunity to lead a flagship program within the municipality, she said it would be on talent development, inclusive leadership, and internal transformation.
“We have to invest in people, especially the forgotten ones. That’s the way you create a responsive, ethical, and effective public sector.”
Ultimately, Dr. Jemina Modise is a beacon of what comes about when scholarship, service, and courage intersect. From the underworld of Randfontein to metro policing influence and academia, her journey is proof that change doesn’t necessarily travel from the outside -occasionally it marches in, is armed with a doctorate degree, and comes in every day to serve.
At a time when South Africa is grappling with the double tasks of transformation and public confidence, it is challenged by leaders like Dr. Modise to provide a sharp, down-to-earth vision: that local government can be an exemplar of inclusive, responsive, and ethical leadership with appropriate investment in people.
The post From the Beat to the Boardroom: How Dr. Jemina Modise is transforming inclusive leadership in South African Law Enforcement appeared first on ProtectionWeb.
The post From the Beat to the Boardroom: How Dr. Jemina Modise is transforming inclusive leadership in South African Law Enforcement appeared first on defenceWeb.
