Serious affair for our ‘foot soldiers’
Few laughs, little fun at Crime Line awards
THE Maslow Hotel in Sandton was probably the safest place to be in all of Gauteng on Thursday night last week. About 150 top-ranking police officers were at the venue for Crime Line’s sixth anniversary gala celebrations and awards ceremony.
Most of the men and women in blue ditched their uniforms in favour of formal suits, but it was hardly a colourful and festive affair. The guests, 300 in total, gathered in the foyer of the hotel and sipped cocktails before making their way into the conference theatre for the awards ceremony.
TOP DOG: There were many familiar faces in the crowd — Gauteng MEC for transport Ismail Vadi was chatting to the chairman of the provincial community police board, Andy Mashaile, and Gauteng police commissioner Mzwandile Petros (one of the few in uniform). They all agreed that they were impressed with the progress Crime Line has made in the past six years.
Primedia boss Yusuf Abramjee, who is head of Crime Line and Lead SA, was catching up with old friends Brigadier Phuti Setati (acting head of corporate communication) and Colonel Vish Naidoo. The latter said they were looking forward to cheering on the “foot soldiers” who put their lives at risk to make a difference in South Africa.
LEADING THE WAY: The vivacious and funny DJ Anele Mdoda was the master of ceremonies and managed to keep the audience going between the long, long speeches.
National police commissioner General Riah Phiyega delivered the keynote address, congratulating Crime Line for “making a difference in many thousands of lives throughout South Africa”.
Abramjee said it was an honour for him to work with people who are so motivated and driven by what they do.
OVERALL: There were winners in various categories — the star awards went to the Police and Prisons’ Civil Rights Union, the South African Federation Against Copyright Theft, SANParks and Operation Khanyisa.
The Gauteng and Western Cape provincial police forces walked away with the excellence award, and Crime Stop took the “ultimate partner” award.
Fighting crime is a serious business, but did the event need to be so earnest? It was only after the award ceremony and supper — and when a few of the big wigs had left — that the partying began.