THE South African Police Service in Limpopo yesterday proved that a woman's place was not only in the kitchen when they appointed three women officers as station commissioners.

Not only did the SAPS recognise the good work done by the women police officers but they also showed that they abided by the country's Constitution that women and men were equal before the law.

This became a reality when Director Naledzani Julia Sivhula was appointed the new station commissioner for Polokwane with effect from yesterday.

Shivula was previously Makhado's station commissioner for many years before her appointment.

Director Dinah Mashele, who was the acting station commissioner for Giyani, was appointed commissioner for the same police station.

Director Christina Marinda Theron was appointed the new station commissioner forCarletonville in North West.

Theron was previously the station commissioner for Bela Bela in Limpopo.

Limpopo's provincial commissioner Calvin Sengani said the new directors where promoted because of their track records at their previous stations.

Sengani added that the promotions had shown that the SAPS management supported the advancement of senior women officers.

He said the three officers were promoted so that they could render the required services to the communities they would now serve.

Sengani told the new directors that they must continue to pull up their socks and fly the SAPS flag high in their efforts to beat crime in their new communities.

He said all the new directors were expected to make a meaningful contribution to help the police service to create a safe and secure environment for communities to live in.

The new station commissioners are expected to support SAPS' top management in the national strategy against crime.