BRAKPAN – On Saturday November16, Carnival City and the Afrisun Trust honoured the men and women who regularly go beyond the call of duty to ensure the safety and security of all those living in Ekurhuleni.
For the ninth consecutive year, the top five nominees in each were presented awards.
The nominees and permanent members of SAPS, civilians, reservists, volunteers and community police forum members were present at the event. Award categories included best detective, best volunteer, best support service member or civilian, best reservist, best community police forum, best team, best social crime prevention or communication member and best VISPOL member.
The awards cover the areas of Alberton, Actionville, Benoni, Boksburg, Boksburg North, Brackendowns, Brakpan, Bedfordview, Crystal Park, Daveyton, Dawn Park, Duduza, Dunnotter, Eden Park, Edenvale, Elsburg, Etwatwa, Germiston, Katlehong, Kempton Park, Kwa-Thema, Nigel, Norkem Park, OR Tambo International, Primrose, Putfontein, Reiger Park, Sebenza, Springs, Tsakane, Tembisa, Tokoza, Vosloorus and Zonkizizwe.
Alberton Community police Forum was voted as the Best Community Police Forum.
· The Alberton Community Police Forum was selected as the Best Community Forum because Since its establishment the Alberton SAPS reported a dramatic drop in crime in and around the Alberton area.
· The Forum has been commended for its hard work, good organization and dedication to the task and the proof lies in the positive feedback from the community.
Awards winners:
Best Social crime prevention/Comminucation was· Sergeant Olga Masethla from Germiston has been selected as the Best Crime prevention and communication member, as she formed party to the establishment of the back to school campaign, which served as a means of encouraging dropped-out school children to go back to school and channel their energies into learning instead of conforming to wrong company and getting involved in gangsterism and its other related problems.
· Together with her colleagues and role players, she fed school children from Ekurhuleni primary school in Dukathole informal settlement.
· Sgt. Olga also ran the Tshedza Candle and Beadwork Project, which was originally started by one of the Gogo’s in the Gogo’s Club.
· The Sergeant was particularly applauded for her engagement with the communities and the time and effort she put into teaching youngsters about the dangers of drugs and other social crimes and working closely with the area patrollers in this regard.
Best Detective: Detective Warrant Office Siphiwe Zwane from Duduza is selected as the Best Detective.
· This dedicated Detective Warrant Officer has made over 50 arrests this year alone.
· His convictions line-up includes robbery, rape, murder, fraud to name a few.
· He relieved the residents of Duduza from criminals who terrorized them at night.
· He recovered stolen goods and apprehended suspects who were involved in drug dealing and drug use, some of the suspects in question are still on trial.
Best Visible Police memeber: Lebohang Ramaesa from Tsakane· This award for Best Visible Police Member goes to Lebohang Ramaesa from Tsakane because of his active roles in Social Crime Prevention campaigns in Tsakane.
· He has organized school random searches, and has managed to remove Dagga, other drug substances and dangerous weapons in schools.
· He has also organizes awareness campaigns that are informed by the dropping crime rate in Tsakane.
· This campaign has helped the Tsakane station in reduce crime, and is admired by a committed youth of Tsakane.
· This SAPS member is also working closely with Safer School Programme at school.
Best Reservist: MM Zulu from Vosloorus. This award for the Best Reservist goes to M. M. Zulu from Vosloorus for the outstanding work he does in the community, the member was has been involved in the arrests of drug syndicates and mules cases.
· He has arrested 75 people for dagga possession and usage
· Arrested 15 people for assault,
· Recovered 6 unlicensed firearms.
· Assisted detectives in solving and arresting four murder cases in the Nguni Hostel.
· Due to his good skills in testifying in court, 2 murder suspects were sentenced to life imprisonment by the regional court and most suspects arrested by him pleaded guilty to their charges.
Best SAPS support Xolani Kenneth from Bedfordview. The award for the Best Support goes to Xolani Kenneth Tyam from Bedfordview for the outstanding support work he is doing for his colleagues in the station.
· He goes beyond his call of Duty and assist with the following HR related duties, management of staff leave, coordinating training, management of transfers, management of service termination, management of disciplinary cases, management of temporary incapacity ,management of grievances, management of appeal register just to name a few.
· He is always ready to assist his co-workers where ever he can.
Best Volunteer: MM Mdaka. The award for the Best Volunteer goes to MM Mdaka, for her volunteering work at CPF since 1983 at Katlehong old Police Station.
· In 2004 she opened a trauma center in Ramokonopi Police Station to help the Katlehong community with cases relating to Domestic Violence, Child Abuse and Child Neglect.
· In 2009 the Katlehong police appointed her as a coordinator for volunteers in their station.
· As a victim support she deals with vulnerable children, neglected children, domestic violence, people who are abused emotionally, children who struggle with drug related substances like; alcohol, benzene, spirit etc.
· As a good Samaritan She takes in lost people under her roof and facilitate for their help from the local social welfare offices.
· At weekends she goes to Old Age Homes to help bath the old people who are no longer are able to do so themselves.
· Miriam Mdaka goes beyond her call of duty and has been serving the community of Katlehong for 30 years now.
Best SAPS team Actonville SAPS. This award for the Best Team Award goes to Actonville SAPS for showing tremendous team work, in maintaining a positive communication channel between the police station and community.
· They keep the community informed with feedback on situations through media and during the community meetings.
· They attend to all crime scenes and they don’t rest until the crime has been solved.
· They go as far as attending to community complaints against police officers within the Actonville Station, and the testimony to their hard work lies in the community’s positive feedback.
Top Cop winner: Olga Masethla. This Top Cop has shown enthusiasm in her work year in, year out.
· She has shown great leadership,
· Has been involved in the Back to school campaigns in her community which served as means of encouraging school children to go back to school and channel their energies into learning instead of keeping the wrong company.
· Owing to various community members of Dukathole informal settlement losing their homes in a recent fire, Sergeant Masethla sourced donations and temporary shelters for the community members affected.
· Sgt. Olga’s Masethla ‘s efforts managed to secure food parcels, blanket and clothing that are worth thousands of rands,
