Detectives at Nigel SAPS were awarded certificates for outstanding performance after they turned arrests into successful convictions.
Detective Sergeant Nomfumdo Gama (35) is one of three female detectives at Nigel SAPS. They recognised her outstanding investigation work, which led to an arrest and a conviction of 15 years imprisonment for tampering with infrastructure.
“The community must know we are working hard. Nigel is our town and criminals must be brought to justice,” she said.
Gama joined the police service in 2011 and has been with Nigel SAPS since then. In 2017 she obtained her degree in criminal justice and forensic investigation at the University of Johannesburg and is currently in her second year of a bachelor’s degree in police practice.
She believes a good relationship with the community is of utmost importance to put all the pieces of the puzzle together.
“What affects the community, affects me because I stay here,” she said. She added crimes like cable theft are slowly reducing due to these successful convictions.
“I am not shaken easily. I am passionate about my work and the difference I make. I serve with pride,” she said.
She is grateful to be recognised, as it is an encouragement and inspiration to do more. Gama is determined to succeed and has plans to study for an LLB degree as well.
“If women can be given a chance, we can run the world,” she said and mentioned she can see herself as the next SAPS general.
Detective Sergeant Bongani Nkosi (41) was also recognised for his outstanding investigation work.
In 2023 he received acknowledgement for a conviction of 12 years imprisonment for tampering with infrastructure and this year he was acknowledged for a conviction of the same crime and a 15-year imprisonment.
“We are a team working together to achieve the same results to ensure criminals are prosecuted and brought to justice,” Nkosi said, adding that convictions of criminals bring hope to people.
Nkosi, who is a pastor in his community, said to be a detective you must have a heart for people. He is grateful to have learnt from the best detectives in the Nigel environment and said they coached him on how to approach people with different characteristics to gain trust and a willingness to help.
“There are always challenges in what we do and when we achieve what we set out to obtain, it is great to be acknowledged,” he said.
Nkosi believes there is a future for anyone who wants to join the police service and although there will always be corruption, there will always be hope. He is passionate about making a difference and leaving a legacy.
