Top accolade for Uitenhage officer

Identify, investigate and arrest – those are three elements of policing in which a Uitenhage constable has proved he is the best in the Eastern Cape and one of the best in the country.

Constable Renier Japhta’s 17 years of unfailing commitment to the Uitenhage Vehicle Crime Identification Unit saw him walk away with the best performing employee award in the category of specific crime investigation at a function on Wednesday during the National Crime Detection Conference in Pretoria.

The 35-year-old joined the police in 2001 as a reservist for 11 years and became a permanent member in January 2012.

After completing his basic training in 2014, he joined the Vehicle Crime Identification Unit in Uitenhage, where he has remained since.

The father of two said he was humbled by the award and that the moment would remain in his mind as the most gratifying of his career.

“I am overjoyed to have received acknowledgement from the highest level for the service I provided over these last few years,” Japhta said.

“It means a lot to me, and my family are extremely proud of what we have achieved.

“But credit must be given to the entire Uitenhage cluster, who enabled me to do my job to the best of my ability.

“The support from them and ease with which we work together as a unit is fundamental to our success and makes all the difference.

“I know this award will encourage all of us at the Uitenhage cluster to continue to strive on a daily basis to improve and bring to book criminals who disrupt the lives of law-abiding citizens.”

Uitenhage cluster commander Brigadier Ronald Koll said Japhta’s commitment to his vocation grew stronger daily and was clearly visible in the successes that he had achieved.

“Constable Japhta secured several convictions during 2017/2018 and has vast knowledge about investigation skills, especially when it comes to identifying tampered and/or stolen motor vehicles, which is one of the major concerns in the Eastern Cape,” he said.