Cape Town - A South African police commander who earned his PhD in Theology, BA in Policing and many other achievements including becoming an author and musician, along with his wife who is an ex-factory worker and now works as a Director of Nursing, said it was hard work, determination and the favour of God that brought their success.

From the day Dr Paulus Antonio began dreaming of a better life for himself and his family, he never gave up and made it a reality.

Antonio, 62, was the first person of colour and one of the youngest people to become a station commander during his thirties in 1990.

Despite growing up in impoverished conditions in Korsten and Lotus River without a father, Antonio managed to obtain his ND in Police Administration, BA in Policing, Masters in Theology and PhD in Theology.

After 15 years in the SAPS and having been part of the inauguration of then prime minister of SA, PW Botha, Antonio climbed the ranks in the police and was determined to improve himself academically and spiritually.

Together with his wife, the now US citizens are on a mission to encourage the youth living in South Africa, after they made Augusta, Georgia, their home about ten years ago.

The former police officer told the Cape Argus that the minute he set foot on US soil, he was determined to return and later become a citizen.

“I used to wash and sleep and use the toilet all in one space, a shanty,” said. “But I was not like any ordinary boy, I used to take note of what was happening around me, I had dreams and aspirations.”

It was for this reason that he went on to publish his first book, autobiography titled “I trusted the process”, which speaks of his life path and the determination he had under the guidance of God. The couple had been invited to the US by well-known SA musician, Jonathan Butler, who is a friend of theirs and fell in love with the country.

“I trusted the process and that is God’s process,” said Antonio who is busy writing his second book and has a registered tourism company of which he is the director known as “PNA-MYC tours.

His wife, Nola, said her husband has always been determined to improve himself.

“When we got married in 1986, he just enrolled me with Success Correspondence College then to do my matric in the middle of that year and as a young mum and housewife I worked extremely hard to pass matric within a period of six months and passed matric with flying colours at the end of 1986.

“Today, I am a Director of Nursing (matron) at a nursing home in Augusta Georgia all by the grace and mercy of God.”

* Dr Antonio’s book is available on Amazon.

Cape Argus