In Youth Month, South Africa honors its youth, and the South African Police Service (SAPS) is celebrating the excellent young officers who embody bravery, dedication, and resilience. One such talented officer is Constable Brooke Erin Fritz, who is making a splash, both figuratively and literally, at just 26 years old.
A member of Parliament Protection and Security Services (PSS) Constable Fritz is also an ad hoc commercial diver of the Western Cape Water Policing and Diving Services. Her double job is a testament to her hard work and non-stop dedication to public safety.
Humble beginnings, high hopes
Born in Kraaifontein on 30 November 1998, Fritz moved with her family to Gordon’s Bay when she was six years old. She began her education at Hendrik Louw Primary School and then attended Parel Valley High School, where she excelled in hockey and swimming, earning provincial colours in both the sports.
Even before joining SAPS, Fritz’s path was a resolute one. Having matriculated in 2016, she thereafter worked at Virgin Active for a year before waiting patiently for her SAPS appointment.
A life-changing moment
It was a heroically dramatic rescue that had first caught her attention on diving. She had witnessed in awe police divers leap from a helicopter to save a drowning person. She set her heart on becoming a police diver herself afterward – not just to be part of action, but to save lives.
Following her initial training at SAPS College in Oudtshoorn in 2018, Fritz was assigned to PSS at Parliament. However, she never lost hope on her diving dream. In 2021, she put in an application to serve in the Diving Unit, going through a tough selection process involving interviews and medical tests. By 2022, she was assigned to work as a diver-support member.
Pushing past setbacks
The road to becoming a full-fledged diver had not been smooth. Fritz began training in 2023 at the SAPS Diving School in Pretoria but watched as the school shut down unexpectedly before she could complete her education. Rather than let this discouragement derail her, Fritz showed real tenacity. She approached an external diving academy and, in 2025, qualified as a commercial diver – a testament to her indomitable spirit.
Now, the youngest diver and sole woman of colour in the Western Cape diving team, Constable Fritz stands as a beacon of hope and inspiration for South African youth.
A Message for the Youth
“If I can do it, you can do it,” she adds.
“Don’t let setbacks or environments get you down. Regardless of how bad or long the journey may seem, don’t give up. The Diving Unit is actually a family, and I am honored to be a member of this amazing, specialist unit with such a rare and valuable skill.”
As Youth Month continues, Constable Brooke Erin Fritz is reminding us all that with determination and drive, even the lowest depths can be overcome – and that every plunge is one step closer to saving lives.
