Hirschfeld Cornerstone of Botswana Law Enforcement
08 Jun 2026
Mr Simon Hirschfeld, the pioneering Motswana Commissioner of Police, who passed away last week - a month shy of his 91st birthday, was a visionary who helped build the institution that is the Botswana Police Service (BPS), President Advocate Duma Boko has said.
Speaking at a memorial service held in honour of the recently deceased Commissioner in Mogoditshane on Sunday afternoon, President Boko said Mr Hirschfeld had engraved his name in history through the foundational work he did in building post-independence law enforcement.
“Like a master builder who may never see the full extent of the city that rises from his labour, Hirschfeld planted seeds whose fruits continue to nourish our nation. The professionalism, patriotism, and commitment to service that remain hallmarks of the BPS stand among the enduring monuments to his life’s work,” President Boko said.
In an evocative eulogy delivered at Mr Hirschfeld’s home before dignitaries including other former police commissioners, Messrs. Norman Moleboge, Edwin Batshu, Thebeyame Tsimako and Keabetswe Makgophe, Advocate Boko said the legacy left by Hirschfeld was borne in shaping the police as an institution, as well as in inspiring the generations of officers and in devoting his life to a peaceful and secure Botswana.
“The rivers that nourish our land do not cease when they disappear from view; they continue their course beyond the horizon. So too does the legacy of Simon Adolf Hirschfeld. It flows through the BPS he helped shape, through the officers he mentored, and through the values he championed throughout his distinguished career,” President Boko said.
He further stated that Mr Hirschfeld led the police “for 24 remarkable years,” from 1971 to 1995, aiding to transform the law enforcement institution into a more professional, disciplined, and nationally representative organisation.
Advocate Boko expressed gratitude on behalf of the nation to the Hirschfeld family for having shared the former Commissioner with the public, and expressed the collective message of empathy and condolence.
“To the Hirschfeld family, the nation mourns with you. We recognise that behind the public servant stood a beloved husband, father, grandfather, relative, and friend. While Batswana knew his service, you knew his heart. While we witnessed his leadership, you shared his joys, sacrifices, and dreams. May you find comfort in knowing that his life was one of purpose and honour, and that his contributions to our country will not be forgotten,” the President said.
Police Commissioner, Ms Dinah Marathe noted that it was Mr Hirschfeld to took the decision for the BPS to hire women police officers in the 1970s, a decision which culminated with her eventually becoming the first woman commissioner in 2024.
Mr Moleboge, who was Deputy Commissioner for 15 years during Mr Hirschfeld’s tenure in charge of the police, eventually succeeding him at the helm of the BPS, said Mr Hirschfeld had pioneered professional policing in partnership with the community.
Political stalwart Mr Daniel Kwelagobe, speaking in his capacity as the former Minister of Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, said he witnessed first-hand how Mr Hirschfeld led transformative change at the BPS, championing the construction of police stations countrywide as well as being the brains behind the establishment of the Botswana Police College. ENDS
Source : BOPA
Author : Pako Lebanna
Location : Mogoditshane
Event : Memorial Service
Date : 08 Jun 2026
Related News
04 Jun 2026
Employment Act Comes Into Effect July 1
04 Jun 2026