Tobias Bosch is a warrant officer at Jeppe SAPS. He joined the SAPS in 1977 as a constable.
Better known as Uncle Tobi at the station, he will be going on pension at the beginning of April after working for 41 years as a police officer.
Uncle Tobi always had a dream of becoming a teacher.
“My parents couldn’t afford to pay for my tertiary education and as a result, I did not go to university. After matric I joined the SAPS and my dream of becoming a woodwork teacher did not become a reality,” he said.
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Uncle Tobi started working for the SAPS at Railway Police in Esselen Park. In 1986, he was transferred to Jeppe when the SAPS was amalgamated.
“I worked at the charge office dealing with complaints for four months. That is where I gained experience as a police officer.
“I was later transferred to the detective branch where I worked as an investigating officer. In 2002 the former station commander, Brigadier Mamba Welcome Zangwa, requested that I start to work at the finance department. I’ve worked at the finance department until now,” he said.
Uncle Tobi said working at the railway police during the 1976 Soweto uprising was very challenging.
“It was very emotional. I saw dead bodies all over.
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“Throughout my career I learned discipline. I am a very strict person and I am very disciplined. If constables were late for work when I was still a sergeant, I would send them back home. There is no disciplinary record in my name and I have never been late for work,” he said.
He said his first salary was R142.
“It was a lot of money at that time. I saved a lot of money and bought my first car. I will never forget the good days I had while working as a police officer. I use to clean the garden at the station, cook potjiekos and watch rugby at Ellis Park during my spare time,” said Uncle Tobi.
His advice to the youth is to go to school.
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“They must not walk around the street and they must not commit crime. I will be relaxing at home when I officially go on pension,” he said.
