Byline: Nonjabuliso Nhlambo
04 May 2024
On Friday 31 May 2024, Bethal SAPS Men for change together with Women’s Network in partnership with Secunda K9, Thomas-Heights Ambassadors and Business against crime forum hosted learners at Bethal Police Station as part of Take a child to work campaign incorporated with international day of the boy child where fifty(50) boys from Bethal Independent Primary School were hosted in focusing and raising awareness on the importance of health and wellbeing of young boys as well as motivating and empowering young boys to reach their career goals and inspire the next generation of leaders in South Africa as well as celebrating international day of the boy child. Members of the South African Police Service outlined their duties and responsibilities to learners.
Sergeant Anastacia Reborn Mayisela joined by Sergeant Arnold Rajoo presented to boy learners about dog handling as a career within the South African Police Service.
She mentioned that police dogs play an important role in the prevention, combating and investigation of crime. She stated that in order for one to become a dog handler, he needs to have passion and love for dogs.
Mayisela further informed learners that she specializes as a narcotic dog handler whereby the narcotic dog is trained to search for different types of drugs.
She also educated the boy child about different types of drugs and the dangers of using drugs.
Sergeant Thomas Mogadime, the Communication and social crime prevention official informed the learners that as the communication official, he is responsible for:
– Initiating community orientated projects.
– Compiling a strategy and business plan for envisaged events.
– Implementing events.
– Compiling and delivering a persuasive public presentation.
– Implementing the communication policy at the station level.
– Creating and maintain an effective communication administration system.
– Gathering information on serious crime scenes and communicate relevant information to the media.
– Managing press and media inquiries.
– Negotiating publication of articles on the station’s accomplishments.
– Maintaining a record of media reports.- Initiating and implement community events.
– Planning and conducting exhibition to the community. Mogadime introduced Warrant Officer Jan Jansen Van Nieuwenhuizen and Constable Darius Mouton, both sector commanders and rural safety coordinators.
He mentioned that rural safety Coordinators have been appointed to interact, consult and implement appropriate measures to address rural safety and crime in rural areas and mentioned that the objectives of the Rural Safety Strategy are to:
– Enhance policing and accessibility to the rural community.
– Improve safety and security within the entire rural environment.
– Adopt an integrated approach in addressing rural safety
– Improve/enhance relationships between the police, farming community, all stakeholders and extended rural communities.
– Foster and establish partnerships within the rural community which relate to safety and security concerns and issues.
Sergeant Mogadime further outlined that sector policing as the division of areas into smallermanagerial sectors and the assignment of police officers to these areas ona full time basis.
He mentioned that police officers regularly patrol their own sector andare able to identify problems and seek appropriate solutions.
Sector policingencourages constant contact with members of local communities.
He also mentioned that the aims and objectives of sector policing are to:
– Prevent the occurrence of crime.- Encourage visible and accessible policing by known, local police officials.
Improve reaction time to complaints and,
– Promote relationship between the police and the communities.
After the presentations, Sergeant Anastacia Mayisela and Sergeant Arnold Rajoo with Vulcan(Narcotic dog) had a demonstration for learners on how police dogs are trained and used in searching for narcotics or drugs either be at home or elsewhere. Learners were left amused by how Vulcan managed to search and found drugs hidden under the cone.
Sergeant Thomas Mogadime, the social crime prevention and communication officer thanked the educators for accompanying the learners to the police station and thanked learners for their positive participantion during the Take a child to work campaign incorporated with the international day of the boy child.
He appreciated Sergeant Anastacia Mayisela and Sergeant Arnold Rajoo with Vulcan for the awesome display or demonstration.
He also thanked the local businesses for making the day possible.
