Colleagues, friends and role players had the opportunity to say their final farewells and pay gratitude to him for many years of outstanding service at an official farewell function on Friday 23 June at Forever Resort Warmbaths. Phetla celebrated his 60th birthday on Wednesday 21 June.
Key role players in the policing sector praised Phetla for his years of dedicated service. Members of the community had high praise for Phetla’s work ethic and his drive to rid the community of perpetrators. His family was also in attendance.
Retired Col Pule Moselane, previous Visible Police Commander in Bela-Bela, said: “Welcome to the world of pensioners, Mr Phetla. Although you were an outstanding leader and a role model for civil servants, you can now take a break and enjoy your retirement.”
Phetla has been a member of the South African Police Service since 1987.
He was appointed as Station Commander in 2019 after Col Lindie Marx was transferred to Saldanha Bay. Prior to 2019 he was Commander of the detective branch in Bela-Bela.
Phetla will be remembered by his colleagues and the public as a dedicated officer that commanded respect and was willing to pay respect where it was due.
He had an open-door policy and was always willing to listen and give sound advice, says Col Johan Bezuidenhout, head of Support Services at the police station.
“I met Phetla in 1997 when we were both stationed in the old Lebowa area (Magatle) between Lebowakgomo and Groblersdal. Both of us held a captain rank at the time. I learned a lot from him, because he was a knowledgeable person and an officer with integrity,” said Bezuidenhout.
“He has been strict, but is a very fair person. He has very high standards and excelled in the execution of his diverse tasks when he became head of the detective branch in Bela-Bela. I can honestly say that he was willing to put his life on the line for the community. Most days he would be first at the office and it was nothing out of the ordinary to still find him at the station in the wee hours of the night; still working.”
Lt Col Annemarie Smith, current head of the detective branch, has served more than 20 years with Phetla at Bela-Bela Police Station.
“I remember the first few weeks after he arrived as the new detective commander. He was not very vocal, but observed the day-to-day activities of the station. When he obtained all the information he needed, he took firm control and no one was in doubt of the high standards that was set by him. He boosted officers’ morale and instilled confidence in them. His leadership was evident. Everybody held him in high regard,” said Smith.
“I have never seen him lose his temper with any police member, or a member of the public. He was on top of things and nothing happened in town that he did not know about. He is vigilant and alert and no one could hide anything from him.”
