‘You are once, twice, three times a Colonel…’

“If you say there is nothing you can learn from me, you must be stupid…” A typical, direct and pointed comment from retiring Dundee Police Station Commissioner, Col Philip Makhubu, who has hung up his badge after serving the police and the community for the past 32 years – and for the past six years as Dundee’s ‘top cop’.
Col Makhubu’s instantly recognisable voice boomed across the hall at Battlefields Country Lodge where his police colleagues from around the district gathered to say their goodbyes.

Tributes
The many tributes were glowing to a man with a no-nonsense approach to policing: “Strong, accountable with a great sense of humour, he leaves a huge void that now has to be filled. We must keep in touch with him even after he retires” – the words of Dundee SAPS Cluster Commander, Brigadier S Khanyile.
“A man who handled his members with a velvet glove, iron hand approach” – long time friend, Brigadier Mhlungu of the Vryheid SAPS Cluster.
“Not a man who wants to take any glory for himself – a man who always asked – how would you like to be remembered?” – Mayor Thulani Mahaye.
His daughter, Nombali, said her dad was her father, friend, mentor, confidant and everything else. “For 32 years we gave him to the community – now he is coming home..”, she said.
He was known as a man who never turned people away from his office – no matter their rank or station in life.
Lt Col Anton Ackerman, who is to act as Dundee Station Commissioner, said he thought he knew everything about policing until Col Makhubu arrived from Newcastle.

No pistol
Even though he travelled everyday from Newcastle, he never failed to make his station visits over weekends or public holidays.
For his part, Col Makhubu thanked his colleagues and the public for their support. “You may be interested to know that for six years while here I never carried a gun, even though I was travelling everyday. We must be people of faith. And, please, do not see colour when you serve the community: there are no whites, blacks, Indians, coloureds whatever… just people that we must serve.”
He said he was ‘surprised to hear so many glowing tributes about myself as I know I am a bad man’. “You say I left a legacy behind – follow this legacy and then there is no need to call me in Newcastle after I am gone.’
Col Makhubu came from a teaching background and also worked at Sasol before joining the police in the former KwaZulu police force. He worked in Ulundi as a trainer and also in Nongoma, Zululand, Osizweni and Newcastle before his final posting in Dundee.
Singer, Lucky Mathambo, best summed it up with his musical tribute: “You are once, twice, three times a Colonel and we love you…” Go to www.northernnatalcourier.co.za to watch Lucky’s musical tribute.