Small town constable receives provincial award
"I had police business to attend to soon after receiving the award, but I had a short celebration with some of the other officers at the awards."
A small-town police constable recently received an honorable award at the prestigious Provincial Police Awards in Tshwane.
Constable Lucky Matome, of the Tarlton Police Station, walked away with the Level 5-7 Vispol Employee of the Year Award at this event and was honoured for his work during the previous year.
Matome was part of a number of groups that launched various projects to improve the community. During the past year, he participated in outreach projects that distributed food, clothing and sanitary pads to members of less fortunate communities.
Meanwhile, Matome was also part of an elite group that was appointed to trace a missing boy. Constables Dlamini, Segakweng and community members assisted him in finding the missing boy, who was located within 24 hours of his disappearance.
During this time, Matome also visited the Tower of Life homeless shelter in Krugersdorp to donate clothes that were collected by different police stations within the West Rand Cluster. The project, named Ntirhisano, was the first of its kind, and members of the Departments of Housing, Home Affairs and the Police were present, bringing government departments together in a spirit of enhanced service delivery.
“I believe in good stakeholder relations because together we can do more,” Matome said.
To Matome, this not only brought together the police station, but ensured good team building opportunities.
Matome received the award on 30 September at the CSIR Conference Centre, but according to him he’s had little time to celebrate.
“I had police business to attend to soon after receiving the award, but I had a short celebration with some of the other officers at the awards.”
This is not the first time Matome has received an award for his role in policing the Tarlton community – he has received four awards during the course of three years.
“I do appreciate these awards, but I cannot drop my policing after receiving such an award, we have to achieve higher highs to completely serve the community. We have to continue serving as role players in the mentoring of communities.”
Matome wishes to be a role-model to other police officers and community members and tries to inspire them through his work as a police officer.
“I just want to thank the West Rand Cluster Commander Major General Anna Mateisi for the unconditional support she gave to me, and all station commanders for guidance and leadership.”
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