SAPS members honoured at ceremony

The Brakpan Cluster comprises the Brakpan, Tsakane, Boksburg, Boksburg North and Reiger Park police stations.

Andy Mashaile, the provincial community policing board chairperson, who delivered a motivational message during the ceremony, said that the vulnerable, especially women and children, need to be protected.

Maj-Gen Vincent Leshabane, Gauteng Deputy Provincial Commissioner for Detectives, who also addressed the guests and recipients of the awards, said people need to be protected.

“The person next to you always comes first. You must always help them. Don’t think you’re bigger than the rank or post,” he explained.

“We must work hard together as a team; we are going to win this battle against crime.”

Brig Wessie van der Westhuizen, the Brakpan Cluster commander, commended the members at the ceremony for their hard work and dedication.

Members of the Brakpan and Tsakane police stations, won the following categories at the awards ceremony:

• David Mulaudzi was the winner of the Administration Employee of the Year level one to seven category. Mulaudzi managed to achieve an average saving of 54.43 per cent (which amounts to R404 689), in the 2014/2015 budget year, on the day to day maintenance of the Brakpan Cluster. He was also awarded second place in the same category at the Gauteng Annual Awards.
• Maj Lindisipho Arosi was named the Administration Employee of the Year level eight to 12 category. Arosi achieved a 100 per cent rating during the business intelligence annual assessment. He also won the same category at the Gauteng Provincial Prestige Awards.
• Sgt Leboang Ramaesa was the winner of the Vispol (visible policing) Employee of the Year level three to seven category. Ramaesa undertook 67 social crime prevention projects, such as drug awareness campaigns, Arrive Alive campaigns, crime against women and children campaigns and school visits.
• Lieut-Col Ramolifi Pailane was the winner of the Vispol Employee of the Year level eight to 12 category. Pailane was identified by station management to act as Vispol head and, since his appointment, the performance of Vispol has increased on the Efficiency Index.
• Det-Const Nkhangweni Managa won the Detective Employee of the Year level three to seven category. This member’s investigation skills secured two life imprisonment sentences and a 25-year imprisonment sentence. He was also recognised as the winner of the same category, at the Gauteng Provincial Prestige Awards.
• Jean-Marie van der Schyff won the award for the Best Performing Disabled Person of the Year category. Van der Schyff is involved in all the Brakpan SAPS social crime prevention initiatives and even organises and funds her own projects. She was also the first runner-up in the same category at the Gauteng Provincial Prestige Awards.
• Lieut-Col Lizzy Mphahlele, head of financial services, and her seven members were the Administration Group of the Year. The members managed to stay within the allocated budget for 2014/2015.
• The Brakpan Crime Prevention Task Team, led by WO Jan Roos, won the Vispol group of the Year category. This team is known for working hard and long hours to achieve their goals. They strive to make Brakpan a safer place. The team was also the third runner-up in the same category at the Gauteng Prestige Awards.
• Tsakane CPF was the winner in CPF of the Year category. The Tsakane CPF initiated 11 crime projects in the hot spot areas of Tsakane and also posted patrollers at problematic areas to address the crime patterns.
• Const Gazina Horn was the winner of the Sports Woman of the Year category. She was selected to represent the Gauteng athletics team from 2013 to 2015 and achieved provincial colours for all three years. This year she was again selected for the Gauteng athletics and achieved national colours. She achieved a first place in the 100m during July and a fourth place during the Southern African Regional Police Chiefs Cooperation (SARPCCO) Games, held in Swaziland.

View more photos here