After serving the community for a whopping 88 years between them, three Honeydew police officers get ready to hand in their badges for the final time.
The bravery of the officers, and support from their spouses, was brought to the fore at the farewell of captains Balan Muthan and Johannes Mokobi and Warrant Officer Sibusiso Zuma.
Their colleagues filled Umlilo we Africa in Honeydew, with station commander Brigadier Anesh Maharaj in uniform.
The camaraderie of the public servants was evident in the heartfelt words spoken, prayers said, and even in the dancing during festivities.
“We are losing some good people,” Colonel Lucia Madinginye said as she spoke about working with Muthan since their early days at Hillbrow Police Station, before he went to the State Mortuary, and then on to Douglasdale and Honeydew Police stations, for whom he served as spokesperson.
“The grace of God has allowed you to reach such heights. SAPS is in your DNA. You are dedicated officers serving your beloved country.”
In jest she gave the officers red cards to signify they have left the police and must not come back to work, though they may always visit.
Warrant Officer Petrus van Wyk said even after Zuma’s leg was amputated, and after Muthan suffered a stroke, the officers maintained positive attitudes.
“Some people would say do not stress. Zuma would say yes, stress, but this is how to. He is a strong man and nothing puts him down,” van Wyk said.
“I asked him about how he would keep going and he said ‘you do not need legs when you are on your knees all day’. I have a lot of admiration for these guys. I would keep Mokobi another 10 years if I could.”
Muthan and Mokobi were seated at a table of honour with their wives while Zuma could not attend his farewell as he was in KwaZulu-Natal at the time.
Colonel Barbara Kruger said the group present was the extended family of the officers, having gone through many ups and downs together.
“We know you will now make new memories and we wish you the best,” she said.
Kruger along with Johan Kiewiet of the South African Policing Union (Sapu) and Sergeant Chris Molapo from the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) made special mention of the officers’ wives, who supported them despite the emotional toll and time constraints that came with their jobs.
Kiewiet and Molapo added everyone could be grateful they were having a farewell while those being honoured were still alive, as that is not always the case in their line of work.
Sentiments of retiring officers
Muthan and Mokobi expressed gratitude to their former colleagues.
Retiring at 55 and 60 respectively, the pair have experienced much in their time with the police.
“I have argued with many of you and I have agreed with many of you but at the end of the day I have always left with a smile,” Muthan said.
“The next day you would see me and we would speak on good terms. I grew up in the SAPS and in those days we treated each other as brothers and sisters. You watched my back and I watched yours.”
He said he would always remember the lunches, coffees, smoke breaks and chats he had with colleagues at Honeydew Police Station.
“After my stroke, many of you prayed for me and called me when I was in hospital, and I thank you.”
Mokobi spoke of leading the serious and violent crime unit at the station and especially the gender-based violence cases he and those under him investigated.
“As a detective, we can carry so many dockets at any time,” he said.
“Often the suspect will disappear and the case remains open, so I asked that the victims always contact us if they see him again.”
Sometimes, however, Mokobi felt victims were at risk and he had to drive them personally to hospitals for Covid-19 checks so they could be processed into the witness-protection system quickly.
Much of this work was after-hours and time-consuming, and Mokobi encouraged officers to do their best to serve the community.
