Bra Joe bids Kempton Park SAPS farewell

After 24 years in service, Johannes Ngubane (65) takes a bow from Kempton Park SAPS.

Members at the station held a farewell party for Ngubane at Blaauwpan on November 30, which was even more special as it was his birthday.

Ngubane worked at the station as a cleaner and an all-around handyman for over two decades.

“We will miss Ngubane a lot. He was dedicated to his work and to helping those around him at all times,” said Capt Jethro Mtshali, spokesperson for Kempton Park SAPS.

“I have learnt a lot from him, he is a great man indeed. Everybody at the station respects him, not only as a colleague but because of the respectful and honorable man he is.”

Members at the station came out in numbers to celebrate Ngubane and it was all smiles and laughter as they reminisced about the memories they each shared with him. Most of his now former colleagues refer to him as Bra Joe.

Lt Col Ronelle Dormehl shared a few words at the farewell.

“He was not only a person we worked with but he was our friend as well. He is very humble, hardworking, always willing to go the extra mile and always had respect. We all learnt a lot from him and appreciated that he stayed the same person for 24 years.

“He has always had an overwhelming kind of discipline and that is one of the things we will always remember him by.”

Respect is one of Ngubane’s strong character traits everybody at the farewell spoke highly of.

“Ngubane respected everyone, irrespective of age, and he never looked down on anyone,” said Col Lesetja Manewa, Kempton Park SAPS head of detectives, who spoke on behalf of the station commander.

“Though you have completed this journey, this is the beginning of another journey. You look much younger than 65 years. Please take care of yourself as you always have. We want you to know that we are not far, just a phone call away.

“On behalf of the station, cluster and province we are proud to have worked with you and even more proud to come to say thank you and that you have run the good marathon. We don’t know where we will find another Bra Joe.”

Ngubane, a resident of Tembisa, was filled with joy.

“I am thrilled to see what was prepared for me and hear all that was said about me. I feel like I have just arrived,” he said as tears of joy filled his eyes.

“I truly enjoyed working with each one of my colleagues. Respect is important to have, without it you won’t go forward in life. Just respect, irrespective of who it is. To all those still in the workforce, my advice is to take care of yourself and respect your job, people you work with and your community.”

“We wish him all the best on his retirement,” concluded Mtshali.

Ngubane’s last day of office was November 30.