NGO honours top cops at incentive awards
SANDTON - Honouring outstanding police service and dedication, the Matla a Bana Incentive Awards recognised some of the most outstanding police officers and sectors in the province.
The awards took place on 4 September at the Rosebank Union Church and according to Lizel van Eeden, a representative of the non-governmental organisation Matla a Bana, the awards are hosted to uplift and recognise members of the police force.
“Matla a Bana hosts the incentive awards as a manner of encouraging and incentivising police members to go beyond the call of duty and assist victims,” she said.
Additionally, Van Eeden said recognising and rewarding officers for their service motivated them to continue doing an outstanding job and to encourage their colleagues to do the same.
The awards are held twice a year and consist of six categories including Best Performers, Best Family Violence, and Child Protection and Sexual Offences among others.
Also present at the awards was Dr Corné Davis, a senior lecturer at the University of Johannesburg, who praised the efforts of organisations such as Matla a Bana in curbing child abuse offences.
“Such organisations encourage participation and invite conversation on such matters, which is extremely important,” she said.
She also encouraged the public to communicate openly when it came to sexual abuse, especially of children, saying that if people opted to not say anything, victims would also find it difficult to speak up.
The organisation was founded in 2002 by Monique Strydom and has various projects, all aimed at minimising secondary abuse, including the creation of child-friendly facilities at police stations and courts, and providing basic comfort bags for victims of such abuse.
Additionally, the organisation assists police officers with effectively dealing with cases of sexual abuse in a dignified manner and trains medical doctors testifying in such cases.
