30-year-old Warrant Officer Avela Nokwe whose journey with the SAPS began as a Social Work intern at Matatiele SAPS in 2019
This year, the South African Police Service (SAPS) joined the country in observing Youth Month by celebrating its young men and women in blue who above and beyond the call of duty.
Today, we introduce the nation to 30-year-old Warrant Officer Avela Nokwe whose journey with the SAPS began as a Social Work intern at Matatiele SAPS in 2019.
His early exposure to the SAPS revealed a deep need for compassionate, professional psychosocial support within the organisation.
In 2023, he was officially appointed as a Social Worker under the Employee Health and Wellness (EHW) Component at Graaff-Reinet SAPS, where he continues to live out his calling, supporting the mental, emotional, and social well-being of SAPS members and their families.
Born and raised in Ntabankulu in the Eastern Cape, Nokwe holds a Bachelor of Social Work and a Postgraduate Certificate in Education.
He is currently expanding his impact by pursuing a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree. Nokwe’s journey reflects a commitment to lifelong learning and a passion for justice, healing, and empowerment.
“For me, social work is not a job it’s a calling,” he says.
“I didn’t choose it, it chose me. Even in high school, I knew I was meant to help others, especially the vulnerable.
Despite concerns from my family about the career path, I followed my purpose, not the pay check.”
His work within SAPS focuses on enhancing employee wellness, helping members navigate trauma, stress, and personal challenges through psychosocial interventions.
“Occupational social work allows me to be a pillar of support for those who wear the badge.
We often forget that those who serve and protect us are also human. My goal is to help them cope, heal, and continue serving with dignity,” said Nokwe.
The importance of EHW and Social Work within SAPS cannot be overstated.
Police members are constantly exposed to high-stress, high-risk situations.
Through Warrant Officer Nokwe’s work, members receive the tools to build emotional resilience, maintain mental wellness, and recover from difficult experiences.
His presence is not only about therapy, it’s about prevention, capacity building, and creating a culture of care within the Service.
In his role, he brings warmth to a uniformed space, reminding every SAPS member that wellness is a right, not a reward.
As a young professional, Warrant Officer Avela Nokwe is not only shaping lives, but he is also redefining what it means to serve.
With compassion in his heart and purpose in his stride, he stands as a symbol of healing in a world that desperately needs it.
His message to the youth is: “Your past does not define you as it does not determine your destiny. Life is a lesson, make mistakes and learn”.