Bellair’s station commander retires
Lt-Col Lionel Pillay climbed the ranks and served various departments during his almost four-decade career in the police force.
FOR 38 years, Lt-Col Lionel Pillay, selflessly put his own life on the line in the name of serving and protecting the community. Bellair Police Station’s commander bids his duties farewell at the end of the month. He will be succeeded by Lt-Col Goodness Bongi Mkhize.
“I joined the police force in 1978 in Lensia, Johannesburg, I’ve had a lot of triumphs with putting bad guys behind bars. I helped put a serial murderer in jail. He was given life imprisonment and the death penalty,”he said. He said his proudest accomplishments in the force included never losing a case.
Pillay climbed the ranks and served various departments during his almost four-decade career in the police force. In 1988, he was promoted to Sergeant, Warrant Officer in 1990,Lieutenant in 1992, captain in 1994 and finally Lieutenant-Colonel in 1996.
He said the biggest challenge for him came in 2005 when he took the station commander post. “I accepted the post and knew that I would be accountable for all the successes and failures of this station. But I enjoyed my work, I got to come up with ideas and put theminto practice. I had a good and loyal team who showed me support all the way,” he said. In 2009, Pillay started an undercover drug bust. “Of the 12 cases we had, not one of them required a lead in evidence – it was not necessary. Over 100 years in sentencing was handed down.”
He has three children and four grandchildren with whom he looks forward to spending more time in his retirement. “I will miss this place very much. The members, people, all the sector forums, neighbourhood watches, all of which I’ve had a good partnership with but I also look forward to spending time with my grandchildren,” he said. “I wish the new station commander well. It’s sad to see two of my members leave the station but I wish W/O Derek Vijiam and Lt Shenlatarabi Raghoonandan well,” he added.
