For 40 years, Reverend Nicholas Komosasa “NK” Mashiane whispered prayers in hospital corridors, held his hands steady on trembling shoulders, and stood firm when the world shook.
Armed with faith, and a forgiving heart, Lieutenant Colonel Mashiane became South Africa’s first black chaplain in the South African Police Service (SAPS).
Born at Ga-Chuene Village, outside Polokwane in Limpopo Province, the soft spoken Mashiane carried both the Bible and the badge, serving as a pastor, policeman, and a spiritual guide to generations of officers.
From blessing new police recruits to holding vigils for fallen heroes, the married father of four had seen it all. Recently, Mashiane stood at the pulpit one last time as a SAPS chaplain, after spending four decades guiding souls through.
Mashiane grew up in a deeply spiritual household. From a young age, he dreamed of becoming either a teacher, a police officer, or a preacher. “My aim was to become a preacher within the correctional environment, to try and correct the wrongdoing of our society,” he recalls.
Mashiane was the eldest of four siblings. His family was not wealthy, but he describes his upbringing as “rich in moral values and ethics.”
His late father was a police officer, while his mother was a retired teacher. One of his siblings, the second eldest, sadly passed away in a car accident.
After finishing high school in 1985, he enrolled at the University of the Free State, where he studied theology with the hope of teaching. But by 1990, his path shifted toward policing. He enlisted at the SAPS, training at Hammanskraal, Pretoria, before being deployed as a constable to Johannesburg Central Police Station.
In 1991, SAPS identified the urgent need to establish African chaplains in its ranks. Mashiane applied, was accepted, and became the first African chaplain — tasked with helping build the newly established spiritual services division within SAPS.
“I was truly honoured. I felt like I was living my calling,” a proud Mashiane says.
But the work was never easy. During the volatile years of the early 1990s, he often found himself ministering in situations of extreme danger and trauma. “Many members died, some in my arms. Sometimes I was in the middle of a crossfire. Bullets missed me, but God’s grace saved me,” the Reverend added.
Mashiane remembers conducting funerals for fallen officers under fire, where even mourning services were disrupted by gun battles. “As a reverend, I never imagined I would one day dig up bodies. But in the police, circumstances are unpredictable. The only thing that kept me was my faith,” Mashiane says.
His tactical police training often combined with his pastoral duty in ways he never expected. Over time, Mashiane became a steady presence in moments of deep crisis — counselling traumatised officers, consoling bereaved families, and helping restore hope in a profession defined by risk and loss.
Beyond funerals and emergency support, he also focused on building faith-based initiatives to strengthen SAPS members. These included Effective Parenting in a Defective World, God’s Answer to AIDS, Ethical Awareness workshops, programmes on grief and loss, debriefing sessions, and marriage counselling.
Mashiane’s contributions also extended to moral regeneration workshops and partnerships with multi-faith organisations.
Mashiane says his greatest achievement has been to bring humanity into the police force through faith. “There is no difference between the uniform and humanity. Because of my faith, I brought Godly humanity into my workspace. If it wasn’t for my faith, I would not have seen God’s tremendous miracles in my life.”
Looking back, he reflects on how society has changed since his youth. “In the past, schools prayed despite different religious backgrounds. Christ was always put first. When prayer stopped, chaos erupted — not only in schools but also in society. Criminals became more violent and demonic in the crimes they committed. My prayer is that we must go back to our roots and put God at the centre.”
As he prepares for retirement, Mashiane hopes his legacy will inspire younger chaplains and officers to carry on the work. “The legacy I leave is for members within the spiritual environment to enhance and expand all the initiatives I was part of, so that the organisation can be embraced in future.”
He leaves behind a message of hope and resilience: “Please don’t give up. Keep the faith. Don’t be defeated by the devil’s cruel means in society and in the workplace. Keep the light of God shining bright, and protect yourself by the blood of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour.”
Mashiane is not lost to the pulpit though. He will continue serving as a pastor at the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa, Alexandra, where he has already ministered for 32 years. He also plans to dedicate more time to hospital and hospice ministry, while supporting retired police members.
Mashiane will be honoured with a farewell service on 3 October 2025 in Edenville, Johannesburg.
The service will not only mark the end of his official SAPS journey, but also highlight his long-standing role as both a spiritual leader and a public servant.
