Introducing Brackendown’s new station commander

Brackendowns SAPS recently welcomed its new station commander, Col Munaf Ismail.

Ismail brings with him a wealth of experience, not only as a police officer but also as a station commander.

Ismail began his career in the police force on February 13, 1986, in Tongaat on the Natal north coast. In December 1986 he was stationed at Eden Park Police Station.

In June 2000 he was promoted to superintendent and took over command of Vispol at Alberton Police Station.

October 2002 he was offered the position of station commander at Zonkizizwe Police Station. Here he served with distinction among the community and learnt valuable lessons within the position.

In February 2021 he was offered the promotion to colonel and the position of station commander at Brackendowns Police Station.

According to Ismail, the driving force behind his life within the police is to serve the community.

“When I started, you did not become a police officer to become rich,” he said. “You became a police officer to serve the community.”

This philosophy carries through to his views on policing within the community.

SAPS and the community

The community plays an integral part in preventing and reporting crime, Ismail indicated.

“The community is our eyes and ears,” he said.

“It is impossible for us to put an officer everywhere. We rely on the community to help us. No police station can operate without the community.”

To this end, he has an open-door policy, not only for police members but for members of the community.

Ismail aims to improve the ties with the CPF, NGOs and security companies as they play a pivotal role in the community.

He wants to make inroads into the gated communities within their area.

One of his dreams for his time at the station is to upgrade the station to make it a police station the community can be proud of.

Outside of his working life, Ismail is a husband and father of three daughters.

His favourite hobby is deep sea fishing, which is shared with his family.