Law enforcement excellence is rewarded in Midrand

The South African Police Service (Saps) hosted its ninth edition of the National Excellence Awards on February 16 at the Gallagher Convention Centre with the theme ‘Encouraging Innovation and Rewarding Excellence’.

Employees, reservists, and community police forum (CPF) structures who displayed excellence, dedication, and extraordinary commitment in the execution of their daily duties and beyond during the 2022/23 financial year were rewarded.

The Minister of Police, General Bheki Cele was joined by the minister in the presidency, the Public Protector of SA, advocate Kholeka Gcaleka, the National Commissioner of Police General Fannie Masemola, and other distinguished guests at this prestigious occasion.

The awards encourage innovation and reinforce a culture of excellence within the organisation to ensure all employees continue to deliver professional services to communities.

This year, the awards boasted 47 categories that included: admin employee of the year, high-risk member of the year, detective and forensic member of the year, woman of the year, CPF of the year, person with disability of the year, and station of the year.

High-risk member of the year (level 8 – 12) was awarded to Lieutenant Colonel Junior Santi who is the operational commander of the Parkroad Tactical Response Team (TRT) in the Free State, he oversees 57 operational members.

Sergeant Keshi Mabunda was awarded the police minister’s special award and promoted to the rank of captain. Mabunda is known for taking down insurance claim fraudsters. His quality investigations led to the conviction of Rosemary Ndlovu.

A constable (no name mentioned for security reasons) in the Free State was also awarded the police minister’s special award and promoted to the rank of warrant officer. This is the member that raised the alarm and alerted the Saps’ organised crime investigations of a woman (Dr Nandipha Magadumana) who had been repeatedly collecting dead bodies in Bloemfontein which ultimately led to the arrest of Dr Magadumana and Thabo Bester.

Also, Sergeant Molwantoa Rapakgadi was awarded the police minister’s special award. Rapakgadi is a detective attached to Gauteng serial and electronic crime investigations (SECI) who investigate serial rapists and offenders involved in child pornography.

Lieutenant Colonel Joe Coetzer was awarded the national commissioner’s special award. Coetzer was part of a takedown operation that dismantled a cash-in-transit (CIT) gang in Makhado last year, 19 suspects were shot and killed during this operation.

Coetzer was injured during the shootout when he was shot in the leg which was later amputated following medical intervention.

Related article: National police commissioner recognises Midrand SAPS members’ hard work