An inspiring journey from police officer to cancer advocate

Recently retired police officer Colonel Santha Moodley, a cancer survivor, shared her battle with cancer and her commitment to raising awareness with MONISHKA GOVENDER

- MONISHKA GOVENDER [e-mail]

CELEBRATING cancer survivor day this year, is Nyanasagrie Moodley, better known as Colonel Santha Moodley, the former head of the Tongaat police station.

Moodley retired from the SAPS last week, after 40 years of service.

In addition to her demanding career, the 60-year-old, from Belvedere, has overcome both leiomyosarcoma and skin cancer.

She was diagnosed in 2023.

Moodley, who is a single mother to her son, Danté Hansin Moodley, became a police officer because she wanted to serve and protect.

"I believed I would make a difference, and I am sure I did. I was actually inspired after I saw an article in the POST about the first troop of Indian policewomen and I knew I wanted to be a part of that journey," she said.

So, in 1985, at 19 years old, Moodley started her police training at the Cato Manor and Wentworth College.

"Training was rigorous, but it disciplined me and made me tenacious as a police officer. While undergoing training I celebrated my 20th birthday," she said.

Moodley started as a young constable at Tongaat SAPS but when she became a commissioned officer, she was transferred to Phoenix SAPS and thereafter Umhlali SAPS.

Later on, Moodley was appointed to the Provincial Protection Services and while there she applied for the station commander's post at Tongaat SAPS.