FORMER Amanzimtoti policeman, Sergeant Maans Griesel, will be laid to rest on Friday, January 28, after a service at Kingsway Ministry Church. Maans passed away on Saturday night, January 15, at the age of 64.
His sister Lydia Smith said he was a true community hero and it was sad to mourn his loss.
ALSO READ: Umkomaas man castrates dog with knife, sentenced for animal cruelty
“He served his communities and country since leaving school. After his years with the military where he, at the time served in Mozambique, Angola, and Caprivi, he later joined the police. He worked in Carletonville and in various areas across the country. When he moved to Amanzimtoti in the late 1980s, he immediately joined the force as a reservist and spent the next years of his life serving this community and its people, working alongside a lot of truly dedicated police officers, such as his long-standing partner, Sandra Hewett, under the captaincy of Dean Hennessey, Elise Porter, and others. His family would like to thank each and every member of SAPS for the impact that they had on his life,” said Lydia.
Among the many awards and commendations he received, he was recognised as the reservist of the year in 2002, and was a training officer and facilitator to the police reservist force. Numerous articles have been written in the SUN over the years about his crime-fighting and the boot camp training he offered to the youth in self defense.
“Maans’ greatest passion in life was to help, serve, protect and defend. He was never too busy to be there. Not a day in his life would pass without helping, saving, and protecting other people, their loved ones and fighting on behalf of the defenseless. Maans will be dearly missed and remembered by many people. Rest in peace beloved brother, father, friend, and officer,” said Lydia.
Maans is survived by his two sisters.
DID YOU KNOW?
Click on the words highlighted in red to read more on this and related topics. To receive news links via WhatsApp or Telegram, send an invite to 061 694 6047
The South Coast Sun is also on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram – why not join us there?
Do you have more information pertaining to this story? Feel free to let us know by commenting on our Facebook page or you can contact our newsroom on 031 903 2341 and speak to a journalist.
(Comments posted on this issue may be used for publication in the Sun)
