Umhlali K9 cop is a 2019 Integrity Icon

Clinton Odayar from Umhlali is one of the five finalists of the 2019 Integrity Icons campaign, a high honour indeed.

The Integrity Icons campaign celebrates public servants that work with honesty and do the right thing, even when no one is watching.

A member of the public nominated Odayar for consideration, and a panel of highly-respected judges selected the five Integrity Icons – all public servants working in the areas of health, education and safety.

“It’s an honour to be recognised as an Integrity Icon, especially on a national level.

“It comes from the passion that I have. I really love what I do,” said Odayar.

Odayar is a police officer who works as a K9 Search and Rescue Officer at the Umhlali K9 Unit.

Together with his canine companion, Dante, Odayar has been instrumental in finding many people who have gone missing locally and further afield.

He also does safety awareness talks at schools and hosts anti-drug and anti-bullying workshops.

The other finalists are Moshalagae Malatji who works in the Limpopo Department of Education, as the head of the province’s Library and Information Services division, Sakhile Nkosi, a clinical audiologist in Lydenburg Hospital in Mpumalanga, Gugu Mlotshwa, a Community Health facilitator based in Eshowe, and Helimamy Moeng, the manager of Pharmaceutical Services at the Southern Western Sub-Structure in the Western Cape

Short documentaries on the finalists have been filmed, and from September 1 to 15 the short films will be shown in the Icon’s communities.

Later on in September the short films will be shown on national TV and disseminated on social media platforms.

The public will be encouraged to vote for their favourite Integrity Icon both online and through SMS and WhatsApp.