Byline: Nonjabuliso Nhlambo

17 November 2022

The South African Police Service (SAPS) hosted the Gert Sibande district excellent awards in Evander Recreational Club on the Thursday, 10 November 2022.

The purpose of the awards was to honor the members of the police work force for their dedication and commitment.

Gert Sibande District Municipality took the first position amongst the three districts in Mpumalanga Province and saw it fit to host the district awards to celebrate the hard work and dedication police stations put in assisting communities.

These awards for the district were last hosted before the Covid-19 pandemic.

Over 38 police stations in Gert Sibande District took part in the nominations and performance was rated for the year 2021 to 2022.

Secunda Police Station was awarded first place on a category which included mending a victims friendly rooms which is a space for gender based violence victims and sexual offence victim’s whereby a private place is provided for all victims.

Station Commander at Evander Police Station, Lieutenant Colonel Jennie Alberts walked away with an award for VISPOL employee of the year with her employee, SRC Kleyhans who received an ward for the Persons with Disability of the year. .

Bethal Police Station was also place on the map by Sergeant Thomas Mogadime who walked away with an award for Policeman of the year with eMzinoni Police Station receiving an award for best visible support police station.

Detective Adries Tshabalala of eMbalenhle Police Station was awarded the Best Detective and Forensic Services Employee meanwhile his colleague, Constable Busi Mthethwa was awarded as the best dressed visible police in the district.

Sergeant Valentia Koma, the spokesperson at Trichardt Police Station also scooped an award for best police woman of the year.

‘’We could see that the spirit was very high and members were encouraged by this event because over the previous two years the event was not held due to Covid 19,’’ said Brigadier Lizzy Mtungwa the Acting Regional Commissioner of Gert Sibande District where she further elaborated how all the members of the police force were excited to take part in the nominations.

Balfour police station came out victorious in position one for the overall police station in the district, which the Commissioner said the members in Balfour committed themselves in making sure that crime is reduced also considering the fact that they are bordering Mpumalanga province, Gauteng province and Free State province.

Stg Thomas Mogadime, spokesperson of Bethal Police Station said he took a chance and applied for one of the categories which he was nominated for and is glad that he came out victorious.

“I love working with people and also love working under pressure”, said Mogadime.

He further mentioned that he thinks out of the box while working with community members who no longer trust the police and he believes that through his dedication he will change the way members of the community perceives police officials.

“The achievement of each and every station is because every police member, therefore all officials are winners but at the end of the day we must have one winner,” said Brigadier Mtungwa giving words of encouragement to all officials who were not awarded awards.