Johannesburg District Commissioner awards medals to nearly 100 police officers
The medal parade was attended by station commanders across the city, as well as the Johannesburg District Commissioner.
It was a proud occasion as hundreds of police officers came from across the city to congratulate members for long service.
Decked in their formal blue attire and medals jingling whenever they moved, those members who reached their 10, 20 and 30-year milestones in the service were awarded medals – as well as some commendation certificates for extraordinary service provided – by none other than Johannesburg District Commissioner Major General Max Masha.
He was flanked by JMPD Acting Chief of Police Maxwell Khanyile and Randburg Police Station Commander Brigadier Michelle Jones at the event at Rhema Bible Church North on September 9.
They received a parade of honour as they entered and left the building, and a police band played the national anthem and other tunes during the event.
In his keynote address, Masha spoke about loyalty, integrity and bravery above all.
“There have been, and always will be situations where you will feel like giving up, where you will feel despair,” he said.
“You will go home and your wife will ask if it is a drain to work in the police service and wear the uniform each day. But come the next day you will put on that uniform. Policing is a calling. If the Lord were to ever ask how we are doing, we would reply that we are doing what we are called to do.”
About 87 members of Roodepoort, Florida, Honeydew, Randburg, Midrand, Douglasdale, Diepsloot and Lanseria police stations received their medals and certificates, and in a short address, Jones congratulated them.
“This not an ordinary job,” she said.
“These are warriors fighting on the front lines protecting the community against crime. You told yourself you will prosper despite difficulties. Know that your efforts will not go unnoticed.”
The MC of the event, Randburg’s Colonel Andries Odendaal asked Diepsloot Police Station spokesperson Captain Tinyiko Mathebula to read out the police’s code of conduct which each officer signs every year.
Near the end of the proceedings, Diepsloot Police Station Commander Brigadier Koena Moichela thanked the church and the organisers.
He also encouraged those who received medals for long service but who were still constables and warrant officers, to strive for more and seek promotion so that they could make more of a difference in the community.
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