Kouga – Stephanus (Steph) Petersen, the newly appointed Protection Services Manager for Kouga Local Municipality, brings a wealth of experience and a deep passion for law enforcement to his new role.
With a career that spans over three decades and a genuine commitment to serving the community, Petersen is set to make a significant impact.
Born and raised in Bishop Lavis in the Western Cape, Petersen considers himself an Eastern Cape native, with his parents hailing from Misgund and Joubertina in the Langkloof. His journey in law enforcement began in 1994 when he joined the Gene Louw Traffic College in Brackenfell and qualified as a traffic officer.
Making A Difference
“From Brackenfell Provincial Traffic, I moved to Brackenfell Municipality, and from 1996 to 2006, I worked at Mossel Bay Municipality, completing my service as superintendent of traffic,” Petersen recounts. In 2007, he ventured into entrepreneurship while qualifying as an Occupational Health and Safety Officer, working at institutions such as National Keypoints, PetroSA, Eskom, and Sasol in Secunda.
Petersen’s dedication to traffic enforcement led him back to the field in 2015, with stints in Knysna, Oudtshoorn, and, from 2018 to 2020, as the head of traffic at Kannaland Municipality. He later joined the traffic teams in Graaff-Reinet and Swartland Municipality, where he played a pivotal role in establishing the first K9 and LEAP units at the latter.
“At Swartland Municipality, we took law enforcement very seriously,” Petersen explains. “I continued my studies, and my last position before joining Kouga Municipality was as a principal inspector at Swartland.”
Faced with rising crime, Petersen acknowledges the challenges ahead but remains optimistic.
Crime Is Challenging
“Crime in its different forms is challenging, and we need innovative ideas to combat it and keep the community safe,” he says. “However, we cannot do it alone. All the role-players, such as the police, social development, AgriSA, correctional services, justice, neighbourhood watches, and the community police forums, must work with us. We can make a difference with the community as one of the most important role-players.”
Petersen’s passion for service delivery through law enforcement is evident. “I have a passion for working with people. I want to be on the right side of the law and speak for those who can’t. Also, I want to add value to society and the next generation.”
Education and the development of the municipality’s children are also important to Petersen. “We must teach them to be safe as pedestrians and use roads cautiously. The education department does its part, but we also have a role to play.”
In closing, Petersen appeals to Kouga residents to treat law enforcement officers with empathy. “We have to go back to Ubuntu, foster a cooperative spirit, and see how we can complement each other,” he adds.
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