A former Mitchell’s Plain SAPS police officer has won the award for Publisher’s Choice for the Most Inspirational Book 2024 and received an award for her contribution to Literary Arts 2024 at the Cape Flats Literary Awards.
Nontombi Luthuli, 43, formerly from Khayelitsha and currently residing in Pretoria, published her latest book, Tshepo My Hope; from Adversity to Victory.
Her book was nominated for the best book cover and best inspirational book in the Cape Flats Literary Awards, which were held in April in Gordon’s Bay.
Speaking to the Plainsman on Friday May 24, Ms Luthuli said at the age of 21, she started working at Mitchell’s Plain SAPS, with her driver’s licence and matric certificate, from December 2002 to 2011. She then studied towards and earned a Diploma in Public Management at Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT).
Captain Mornay Kleinhans, then Inspector Kleinhans was her field trainer who helped her in her career. He said Ms Luthuli was easy to train as she was always willing to work, never a back-chat or reluctant, he said.
“I still remember when she did something wrong, nothing serious, I said I want to speak to her mother. She brought her mother and the two of us had a ball laughing, to the extent that I received a cake the next day. She was a go-getter, always full of respect, a humble spirit of which it brought her great success,” he said.
She worked at the charge office as a vispol (visible policing) member and later joined the detectives department at Mitchell’s Plain SAPS. She worked with different commanders such as General Jeremy Vearey and Brigadier Cass Goolam.
Ms Luthuli was selected to go and work at the Delft Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) unit for a month before she was appointed at the Western Cape Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) as a senior investigator from 2011 to 2014.
She was appointed as an investigator at the Western Cape Police Ombudsman as one of the first members of the office from 2014 to 2017. From 2017 to 2021 she was appointed as an assistant director at the Western Cape Department of Community Safety. She’s currently an assistant director at the Civilian Secretariat for Police Service in Pretoria working in the Police Conduct Unit.
“I’m a proud public servant all because of Mitchell’s Plain SAPS. I didn’t know anything about combating and investigating crime in the beginning. God knew he had a purpose for me to fulfil one day. I will forever be grateful to the SAPS,” she said.
At the time of her working in Mitchell’s Plain, it was well known for gangsterism and shootings. Her mother was very concerned about her safety working in this area.
However, Mitchell’s Plain “was rather warm, as shootings in the area were exaggerated at times,” she said.
“We knew the people very well and they respected the police. As a police officer you need to have a strong heart. Being an officer is a calling. I’ll never forget the beauty and love of the Mitchell’s Plain mense,” she said.
Ms Luthuli has had to overcome numerous setbacks in her life.
In the 90’s she survived two attempted rape encounters from trusted family friends. Her brother was shot and killed in Khayelitsha in July 2013 in her presence, her mother died in May 2017 in her presence and her step son, 21, drowned in February 2018, also in her presence.
When her son was born in 2005 she named him Tshepo meaning hope, not knowing that he would become her hope when she was going through life.
“My son’s smile kept me going strong, he’s a gift from God, brilliant, kind, and a future rugby player,” she said.
She released her book in June last year, launching it in July last year in Khayelitsha.
“My book is a memoir based on my true life experiences. I recorded my life’s encounters in diaries not knowing they’ll become this beautiful inspirational book,” she said.
Her publisher, Haroldene Le Roux Tshienda, said: “We’ve selected her book for her bravery and telling her story openly without fear. She’s a true blessing and her personality is just amazing.”
“I’ve never given up. I’m a warrior and a woman of noble character. I refused to be defeated by pain, anger and bitterness. My book is to contribute to mending and healing broken souls and eradicating gender-based violence in our country,” she said.
“My dream is to see my book making it to the big screens some day,” she said.
For more information on Ms Luthuli’s book, call her on 081 282 4719 or WhatsApp her on 068 082 8320.
