This week on Womanity, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka speaks to Professor Bernadine Benson about her professional journey, spanning nearly two decades in policing and a transformative transition into academia. Her story is one of resilience, identity, and continuous evolution, shaped by hardship, purpose and faith.
A Childhood of Instability and the Drive to Excel
Born into a working-class family with an English mother and Afrikaans father, Prof Benson’s early life was marked by constant movement and instability, attending seven different primary schools. This environment fostered both loneliness and a fierce internal drive, pushing her toward academic and athletic excellence as a means of coping and self-definition. Her entry into the South African Police Service at just 17 years old was a calling rooted in a desire to succeed.
A Career in Policing: Discipline, Identity, and Power
Prof Benson’s policing career was defined by discipline, structure, and achievement. Rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, she thrived in a system built on hierarchy and command. Yet, this environment also shaped a rigid worldview, one that prioritised performance over empathy and authority over reflection. Her identity became deeply intertwined with her rank and role, which symbolised both power and belonging.
The Turning Point: Letting Go of Identity
A pivotal moment came when Prof Benson realised that her sense of self was rooted in her professional identity rather than internal values. This realisation catalysed her transition from policing into academia at UNISA, a move marked by uncertainty, fear, and profound personal growth.
In leaving behind authority, she began developing emotional and spiritual intelligence, learning to lead with compassion rather than command.
Learning to Listen: Emotional Intelligence and Transformation
Prof Benson describes her evolution as one shaped by “hard knocks” and critical self-reflection. Exposure to new ideas, particularly through transformation and decoloniality dialogues, challenged her deeply ingrained beliefs and cultural “default settings.”
These experiences forced her to confront uncomfortable truths about bias, identity, and how her actions impacted others, ultimately reshaping her leadership style into one centred in empathy, listening, and openness.
Navigating Male-Dominated Spaces
Throughout her career, Prof Benson faced significant challenges as a woman in male-dominated environments. She speaks candidly about patriarchal dynamics, tokenism, and the pressure placed on women to perform in roles they may not yet be supported to succeed in. Her strategy for survival and influence evolved: learning to “read the room,” adapt communication styles, and reframe ideas to gain traction without compromising integrity.
Uncovering Hidden Crimes: Art Theft and Heritage Protection
One of the most fascinating aspects of her career is her work in art and heritage crime investigations. Prof Benson highlights the often-overlooked scale of these crimes, noting that high-profile heists are just the “tip of the iceberg.”
She exposes systemic weaknesses—poor inventory systems, undertrained staff, and lack of funding—that make cultural institutions vulnerable. Importantly, she reframes these crimes as societal losses, not victimless acts, as they erode collective heritage and identity.
The Future of Policing: Technology Meets Theory
Turning to the future, Prof Benson explores the role of Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies in law enforcement. While acknowledging the potential of tools like voice analysis and AI, she cautions against uncritical adoption, highlighting the dangers of pseudoscience and poorly implemented systems.
She advocates strongly for intelligence-driven policing grounded in criminological theory—arguing that without foundational knowledge, even the most advanced technologies will fail to deliver meaningful impact.
A Crisis of Values: Society, Policing, and Ubuntu
A recurring theme in the conversation is the erosion of moral values in society. Prof Benson connects systemic issues in policing to broader societal challenges, including corruption, lack of accountability, and weakened ethical foundations.
She calls for a return to fundamental principles, starting with early education, and emphasises the importance of Ubuntu not just as a concept, but as a lived practice.
The Personal Foundations of Success
Beyond her professional achievements, Prof Benson attributes her success to deeply personal influences: her faith, a resilient mother, a supportive marriage, and mentors who guided her growth.
These relationships provided stability and grounding, enabling her to navigate uncertainty and remain committed to lifelong learning.
A Philosophy for Life and Leadership
Prof Benson leaves us with a philosophy that inspires self confidence:
- Never stop learning
- Embrace discomfort and challenge your beliefs
- Receive criticism with reflection, not defensiveness
- Measure success not by titles, but by humanity
She describes herself as a “potter,” shaping the lives of those she encounters. A metaphor that underscores the responsibility of leadership and the impact of everyday interactions.
Tune in for more…
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