Friday, July 29 saw a gala event held at Usambara Lodge in Krugersdorp to show appreciation to patrollers and security companies for their commitment to assisting the police in Roodepoort’s fight against crime.
According to Warrant Officer Johan Loots who started the initiative with Warrant Officer Donald Niehaus in October last year, the aim of the special awards was to thank patrollers and security companies for helping the police.
It was the first-ever gala event of its kind. The Mogale City Mayor Councillor Tyrone Gray was also invited but unfortunately could not attend, but he did send someone to represent him.
Around 180 guests attended the event while 12 awards were handed over to members of security companies.
After Captain Sonja Prinsloo welcomed all present, the awards programme commenced with the Best Arrests Trophy for the most arrests by a security company going to DMS Security for their commitment and dedication to making sure suspects were apprehended after receiving mutable alarm activations from a client’s premises.
Two suspects were found inside the building and were detained, and during a thorough sweep of the building, DMS found a dismantled firearm, knife, explosives and other equipment used by the suspects.
The Best Arrest by a Neighbourhood Watch award went to Sector 3 as a result of some great teamwork from Bennie Hoffman, Zanoni Labuschagne and the Horison Block Watch (HBW) who ensured the arrest and the recovery of stolen goods and appliances from a property on 5th Avenue, Roodepoort North.
Best Patrol Captain – Neighbourhood Watch wen to Zanoni Labuschagne (Sector 3) who has risen from a patroller to patrol captain at HBW.
The other special award winners were:
• Assistance trophy – security person – Albert Carstens
• Achievement trophy – security company – Dtron
• Medic trophy – Marga Scheepers
• Chairperson’s trophy – (Sector 1) Andreas Oberlechner
• Youth desk certificate – Nico Lekgau
• Most productive security company in each Sector
Sector 1 – EC Security
Sector 2 – Help 24
Sector 3 – EC security
Sector 4 – National security
• Most productive patrollers – hours patrolled, active with operations
Sector 1 – Jan Moolman
Sector 2 – Charlie Kruis
Sector 3 – Jessica Labuschagne
Sector 4 – Nico Lekgau
Overall most productive patroller – Jan Moolman who patrolled 711 hours in his sector for the period
• Natt Trophy – Best Sector trophy – Sector 1
The floating trophy for the most productive Sector Manager 2021–2022 went to Warrant Officer Johan Loots who started as sector manager in 2016 in Sector 2 Witpoortjie.
There he created the Princess Neighbourhood Watch and Sector 2 Forum, and in October 2021 he was moved to Sector 1 as Sector Manager where he also created a Sector Forum.