Awards and recognition for Brakpan SAPS members

Commended for their hard work and dedication.

September 15, 2016

2 minutes read

Brakpan Police Station commander Brig Johannes Manyathele received an award in acknowledgement of his long service to the SAPS. His wife Florah joined him on stage. Maj-Gen Poobalan Subbiah is the Ekurhuleni Central Cluster commander.

Men and women of the Brakpan SAPS who go beyond the call of duty were honoured at the Ekurhuleni Central Cluster 2016 Prestige Awards.

The glittering function was held at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg on Friday, last week, and saw members of the SAPS honoured in several categories.

The Ekurhuleni Central Cluster comprises the Brakpan, Boksburg, Boksburg North, Reiger Park, Benoni, Dawn Park, Crystal Park, Actonville, Putfontein, Daveyton and Etwatwa police stations.

Read: Brakpan joins Ekurhuleni SAPS Cluster

High-ranking police officials from Gauteng, as well as members of the cluster’s various community policing forums were also in attendance.

Capt Lusha Govender from the Brakpan SAPS was the emcee and cluster commander Maj-Gen Poobalan Subbiah delivered the keynote address.

He commended the award recipients for their hard work and dedication, telling them, “you deserve more than this ceremony today”.

Subbiah spoke at length about drugs and how drugs are destroying our communities.

“All of us need to fight this scourge,” he said.

“Imagine what it would be like without drugs.

“There would be more intellect, more respect.

“Are the police respected?

“There are countries in the world where police are held supreme.

“We need to develop that, we need to bring back respect.”

Four members from the Brakpan Police Station, who have or will be retiring from service this year, received certificates and gifts in acknowledgement of their long service to the SAPS.

These recipients were:

• Station commander Brig Johannes Manyathele, who will retire on November 30 after 36 years and 136 days of service.

He started his career in the former municipal police service in 1980 and later joined the railway police.

Manyathele became a member of the SAPS in 1986 when the services where amalgamated.

He has performed duties at Rietgat, Soshanguve, Vosloorus, Tokoza, Katlehong, Germiston, KwaThema and Brakpan.

• Spokesperson Capt Joep Joubert, who will retire on December 31 after 39 years and 17 days service

He started his career in 1975. He left in 1988 and re-enlisted in 1990.

Joubert has performed duties in Springs, Bedfordview, Boksburg, Boksburg North, Germiston, Dawn Park, Area Commissioner’s office in Germiston and Brakpan.

• Reservist Lieut-Col Abraham Peens, who retired on July 14 after 34 years and two days service.

He started his career as a reservist in 1982 and has performed duties at Springbok, Klerksdorp, Benoni, Nigel and Brakpan .

• Senior admin clerk Reinette De Beer, who will be retiring on October 31 due to ill health after 28 years and 40 days service.

Other members from the Brakpan Police Station were honoured in the following categories:

• Administration Employee of the Year (level one to seven): First runner-up WO Mark Fourie

• Administration Employee of the Year (level eight to 12): Winner Lieut-Col Hilton Henstock

• Administration Group of the Year: First runner-up Brakpan SAPS Human Resource Management

• Vispol Employee of the Year: First runner-up Capt Mogamat Emjedi

• Woman of the Year: Winner Sgt Faith Ntuli

• Best Performing Disabled Person of the Year: Winner Jean-Marie van der Schyff

In addition, Const Selwyn Pieterse and Const Sevha Mashakeni from the Brakpan SAPS received recognition from the provincial commissioner and were awarded certificates of commendation for going the extra mile in their duties.