How Colonel Raghoonundan is changing Chatsworth's crime story

AFTER beginning her career as an administrative clerk in 1993 at Bayview SAPS, Lieutenant Colonel Shenlatha Raghoonundan made history when she returned as the first woman to command the same station.

Eight months into her tenure, her hands-on leadership approach and community partnerships are making significant inroads against crime in one of South Africa's most challenging policing districts

In an interview with POST Plus, Raghoonundan described her “homecoming” 31-years later as “humbling and a privilege”.

Eight months on, and her leadership is making waves beyond Bayview’s borders.

The community, long frustrated by the spiralling crime, has responded to Raghoonundan’s crime fighting initiatives with warmth and support.

“From the very first day, people were enthusiastic to work with me to uplift the community and get rid of crime. That trust is not easily won in Chatsworth, where the crime rate remains among the highest in the country,” she said.

She said her open-door policy and visible presence had started to shift perceptions and increase the community’s faith in policing.

As a woman of action, Raghoonundan has wasted no time proving that her leadership was hands-on.

In March, Pastor Sitham Baram Michael Andrew Chetty, 54,was charged for the rape and sexual assault of the boy from his congregation. When he was arrested Raghoonundan removed the boy, his mother and his younger sister from their home after Chetty’s congregation had victimised them, accusing them of making false allegations.

She testified in court that Chetty should not be released on bail and spoke out against gender based violence (GBV). Bail was denied. At the time of the bail hearing, Raghoonundan said she was intimidated as a witness and arresting officer in the case.

She said she was confident justice would prevail in this matter.

As part of her proactive, visible policing stance, Raghoonundan holds monthly public imbizos, blue-light patrols, and roadblocks in partnership with the metro police, home affairs, and the liquor board.

She said these initiatives had yielded “astounding results”.

Bu  the challenges remain immense, she added.

Raghoonundan said unemployment, drugs, and the sale of illegal alcohol sachets were fuelling assaults and domestic violence.

“Online fraud, identity theft and cyber bullying are also threatening our community,” particularly the old and vulnerable she warned.

Raghoonundan’s leadership has not gone unnoticed. In August, she returned from the Paarl Training Academy, in the Western Cape, as the joint winner of the  best student award from the station commanders learning programme.

She described the win as a promise she had fulfilled to her members.

“I worked consistently and defied several odds. I wanted to put Bayview SAPS on the map, and I feel extremely proud that I achieved that goal.”

Despite her accolades, Raghoonundan remains firmly focused on the reality in Bayview - violent crimes, including robberies and home invasions, drugs continue to plague the community.

She believes that the real power in fighting crime lies in partnerships.

“I urge the community to join their active policing sectors and to report crime, however petty it may seem. Strength in numbers will help us drive out the criminals,” she added.

Her vision is clear: a Bayview where residents trust their police, feel safe in their homes, and work alongside the SAPS to secure a brighter future.

“We owe it to the next generation to clean up the streets. We cannot allow our people to live in fear. Together, we can make Bayview crime-free.”

For a community searching for hope amid grim crime statistics, Raghoonundan’s leadership offers a reason to believe change is possible - one strong step, and one strong woman, at a time.

POST PLUS