VRYHEID KZN: New face in the station commander’s chair
Potgieter began his career in the police in 1984 after matriculating from Hoërskool Pionier in 1983
At the beginning of August, Lieutenant Colonel Potgieter took over the reins from Colonel Ndlovu as acting station commander of Vryheid SAPS. Potgieter began his career in the police in 1984 after matriculating from Hoërskool Pionier in 1983. He attended the police college in Newcastle, after which he was assigned to the Riot Unit in Newcastle, where he was active for 18 years. After his promotion, he was stationed in Ulundi at the Area Commissioner’s Office, which was mainly for logistics purposes. After the area office closed down, Potgieter was sent to Vryheid to the Logistics Department. Since 2019, he was support commander in the Logistics Department before becoming acting station commander.
Lieutenant Colonel Potgieter only ever had one passion and that is to serve his community. “Hierdie is ‘n roeping, dit kan ek eerlik sê… dit is vir my ‘n roeping. Iemand wat dit vir die geld doen, gaan definitief vêr te kort skiet.” The day he made the decision to become a police officer, he completed his Police Diploma at the college in Newcastle. Being the determined person he is, he completed two more qualifications: a National Higher Diploma in policing, as well as Public Management, which is the equivalent of an Honours degree. “Toe ek begin swot het, het ek nooit ‘n jaar gemis nie. Ek het gedruk en gedruk sodat ek so gou as moontlik so hoog as moontlik kan eindig.” Unfortunately, he has been at the same rank since 2001, but this is not because of a lack of trying… His ultimate aim is to obtain the rank of colonel.
Potgieter was born and bred in KwaZulu-Natal. His father was a teacher and due to promotions, they had to move around quite a bit. They stayed in Ladysmith, Bergville, Melmoth and Newcastle, where he eventually started his career in policing. Even though he was in the Riot Unit and didn’t really deal with other crimes, he remembers one case where they confiscated 36 AK-47 rifles within the space of a week. As a young police officer, he also remembers that they often confiscated huge amounts of dagga. Potgieter moved from the Riot Unit into Support Services as soon as he could, where he ended up as the head of logistics in the Riot Unit. He shyly tells how he received five clean audits during this time. He managed to get seven riot units in KwaZulu-Natal up to standard.
When asked what his plans are for the future of the police station, he immediately says: “Me and the management’s aim is to get the crime statistics of Vryheid down – drastically. It has declined already, if I have to compare where it was in August and where it is now… But it is not where I want it, as yet. Serious crime, as far as possible, you want to restrict. This includes murder and attempted murder. That is what I am aiming for. I want Vryheid and the community to feel safe. At this stage, that can’t be said.”
Lieutenant Colonel Potgieter doesn’t only have an active mind, but active legs as well! He has run 28 Comrades Marathons and won 28 medals. One of the marathons he even ran with a broken hip. He is a passionate and positive person who says, “Wat ek aanpak, probeer ek ‘n sukses van maak, of ek doen dit so goed as wat ek kan.”
His message to the community of Vryheid: “During the looting, the community showed unity – and that is what the police want – community policing. Vryheid would’ve perished if it wasn’t for the community during that time, and the community should know it. The police force didn’t have enough manpower to contain the looting. The community is our ears on the ground; they need to inform us of crime when they see it happening or hear of anything. I want to invite the community to have structures in place – and that includes Bhekuzulu, Lakeside and Sasko – to assist the police in all areas to actively stop crime. Become part of community policing forums, as this is the only way we can stop criminals and make Vryheid safe for everyone.”
Lieutenant Colonel Potgieter advocates an ‘open door policy’ and anyone with complaints regarding the local police is welcome to contact him. This will help him correct the matter.
The contact number for Vryheid SAPS is 034 989 5506/7.
ALSO READ: VRYHEID KZN: R500k worth of dagga recovered by SAPS
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