SAPS awards officers for service excellence
KWAZULU-NATAL Police Commissioner Lieutenant-general Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi reminded all men and women in blue that the kind of work they do is not about them, but is about “this country that you serve”.
Mkhwanazi made this comment as he congratulated the nominees and winners of the KZN SAPS Excellence Awards for 2022 held at the Coastlands Musgrave Hotel on Wednesday evening.
The nominees at the glittering event basked in the praises and congratulations.
Mkhwanazi said the work of the officers is not easy, but needed determination and resolve… “for you to achieve the best results as you go about protecting society,” he added.
“When the people look for directions, they come to us. When people look for answers, … they come to us.
“Some of our women and men in blue have in the course of their work become midwives, medics, peacemakers, counsellors, and most importantly go-to people whenever the members of society encounter challenges in their everyday life,” Mkhwanazi said.
He added that the compassionate nature of police was often forgotten, but advised officers not to be demoralised and forget their pledges they e when they took the oath to serve.
“I therefore congratulate each and every member gathered here tonight for being nominated … which I believe is well-deserved,” he said.
First in line was the administration employee of the year: level 1-4 category. Out of the three nominees, Senior Foreman RM Nyawo took the honours.
In The administration employee of the year: level 5-7 category, AC P Nunkumar, said to be the best communicator, scooped the award among the three women vying for it.
The administration employee of the year: level 8-12 award went to Captain M Pillay, while Colonel TP Ntuli came second, and Captain SP Magwaza third.
In the administration team of the year category, the Amajuba District was chosen first.
There was also the categories of Visible Policing (Vispol) and Operations employee of the year: level 8-12, which was won by Lieut-colonel TD Maphumulo, the Vispol and Operations team of the year was won by the Hilton PES 10111 Search and Rescue team.
In the high-risk member of the year: level 5-7 WO PMP Rodrigues took the honours, while in the medium-risk member of the year: level 5-7 the lone nominee Sergeant PN Cele received the award.
The medium-risk team of the year category went to the Port Shepstone Search and Rescue team, the detective and forensic services employee of the year: level 5-7, Cst NI Sangweni held off her two male counterparts to win the award.
The detective and forensic services employee of the year: levels 8-12 was taken by Col DB Nala, while the Nongoma SVC Task team scooped the detective and forensic services team award.
The Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Units (FCS) investigator of the year category: level 5-7 was also won by a woman, Cst NL Mlotshwa.
The FCS investigator of the year: level 8-12 two police women were pitted against each other. Captain KA Schoeman took it.
The FCS investigator team of the year went to the Inanda FCS Task team.
In the senior manager of the year category: level 13-14 operational, a veteran Brigadier WJ Slabbert was heaped with praises for his 35 years of service in the SAPS and his exceptional work in serving the members of society, while Brig MM Buthelezi was awarded for being a senior manager of the year: level 13-14 in administration.
The woman of the year and man of the year categories were the focal points of the event and a dynamic, full of exuberance Captain Pillay of the Chatsworth police station ran away with the honours.
Her male counterpart Sergeant C Odayar, who in his interview with the Daily News yesterday morning excitedly revealed that he had just been promoted to a warrant officer position. In recognition of his sterling work in serving society, he snatched the award.
The sportswoman of the year award went to AC NP Mngadi, and the sportsman of the year went to WO CL van Schaik.
Reservist of the year was awarded to R/cst FL Khumalo and the CPF of the year award went to M Naidoo.
Chatsworth police station won the police station of the year award.