Brakpan SAPS salute top cop
A plaque unveiling took place at the police station last Friday.
It was a send-off befitting a leader admired by so many. Personnel at the Brakpan Police Station found it difficult to compose themselves as they bid farewell to station commander Brigadier Fredl Jonck last week.
As reported in last week’s Herald (‘Leaving a lasting legacy’), four experienced and dedicated officers from the station welcomed retirement at the end of June.
They were Jonk (40 years of service), Lieutenant-Colonel Sifiso Madlala (36 years of service), Warrant Officer Jan Stoltz (37 years of service) and Lieutenant-Colonel Peet van der Schyff (38 years of service).
On Friday, staff and CPF members lined up in the station’s yard, waiting to surprise the brigadier. Jonck’s family was also present.
As he made his way down the exterior staircase from his office for the last time as station commander, Jonck became visibly emotional upon seeing the assembled group.
When asked for a speech, he simply thanked everyone for their support. This was followed by a short parade by uniformed officers who marched to the flag poles on the premises.
Jonck, accompanied by Van der Schyff and Madlala, then raised the South African and SAPS flags, and the national anthem was played.
The group then made their way to the Client Service Centre (charge office) where homage was paid to fallen SAPS officers at the Wall of Remembrance.
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Inside the centre, a plaque was unveiled in honour of Jonck. Sector One manager and communications officer Constable Audrey Buthelezi told those gathered that it is because of Jonck that the Brakpan community has gained trust in the police.
She also cited the relationship Jonck has with SAPS members as one of the most important ways he has made an impact.
“He is there for every member in need and is there to assist anyone who comes to him, even on a personal level,” she said.
Buthelezi continued by stating the performance of the station under Jonck’s leadership was excellent.
“Brigadier Jonck made it a point to manage and monitor crime in Brakpan and maintain performance,” she said.
“The relationship he created between the SAPS and CPF is very strong. This results in CPF members always being available to assist the SAPS. He has shown leadership qualities not just for himself as station commander. We have learned from these qualities and believe that we will also be strong leaders in future because of his commitment to all of us.
“He is a leader, not a manager. A leader is defined by the relationship they create with the people they are leading.
“Brigadier, we are not saying you are a leader because of your rank. Today, we are bidding you farewell and calling you our leader because of the relationship we have with you.”
The farewell concluded with another parade which saw officers marching along Gardiner Avenue, and Jonck was accompanied out of the station by a police and CPF convoy.
