Meet Pinetown SAPS new station commander
Brigadier Leon Matthysen is familiar with the Pinetown area as he has worked as a vispol commander at the station for nine years.
THE appointment of Pinetown SAPS new station commander Brigadier Leon Matthysen was well received by members who believe he is the best man for the job.
Matthysen is not new to Pinetown as he previously worked as the vispol commander for nine years and is known to have physically worked with the members on the streets of Pinetown.
The new station commander said it is an honour and privilege to serve as the station commander.
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He started his policing career immediately after finishing school. “When I opened my eyes, I realised I was still here after 38 years,” Matthysen said with a smile.
Matthysen said being a police officer is not just a job but a passion.
“You must be dedicated, love to serve the community and willing to go the extra mile and also work overtime,” he said.
“Discipline, dedication and punctuality are also important in this job,” he added.
He started working in the VIP unit, and from there, he worked at Port Shepstone as a constable.
Matthysen comes with lots of experience as he has worked as a station commander at Margate, Mtubatuba, Verulam, Point, Nongoma, Sydenham, Newlands East, Isipingo, Mpumalanga KZN, Newcastle and Inanda.
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Working in different communities with different cultures and environments has equipped Matthysen with various skills .“I can say it is a privilege to be back in Pinetown – I know the area, the crime patterns. To fight crime in Pinetown, we need to use different policing strategies because it’s a diverse area and we have a big residential area and many businesses,” he said.
Working hand-in-hand
He admitted that Pinetown is known for its high rate of robberies.
Matthysen highlighted that police cannot fight or decrease crime alone. “We need to work with the external stakeholders, such as the security companies and the different community structures.
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“We have a very active policing forum, and we want to make use of the Community in Blue concept in our fight against crime.”
The Community in Blue is an initiative of the South African Police Service to involve the community as partners in fighting crime in the sectors, therefore he appealed to the public to join the fight against crime and report criminal activities.
“For the community to trust us, we also need to be held accountable if we are delivering poor service.
Matthysen reported that the members’ productivity will be monitored, and for the month of September, the police have already made 83 arrests within the first 10 days. The arrests were for serious crimes, including murder.
Spare time
The station commander enjoys sport.
“When I am not at work, I love sitting on the couch watching a game of rugby. I enjoy swimming and jogging. It is important to be healthy. I also enjoy spending time with family,” added Matthysen.
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