Waiting for a loved one to come home safely is a reality many families of first responders know all too well.

Charmaine O’Farrell knows it from 42 years of experience. A member of Northcliff Union Church, O’Farrell joined a monthly prayer gathering for first responders at Market Street Park in Fairland, where she helped hand out boerewors rolls, cold drinks, and encouragement to members of the Fairland Police Station and private security companies.

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This Sophiatown resident’s message carried the weight of personal experience. O’Farrell’s husband spent 42 years in the South African Police Service before retiring eight years ago, working in the riot unit, Soweto, the video unit, and various police stations.

Speaking at the gathering, she reflected on the side of policing that is rarely seen — the family waiting at home. There were Christmases when her husband was working, sudden call-outs when she did not know where he was going, and times during periods of unrest when he would be gone for days. “Was he alive? Was he dead? You didn’t know.”

Even when he returned home, the effects of what he had witnessed could follow him through the front door.

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O’Farrell said families often have to recognise when a first responder needs silence, space, or simply someone to encourage them. Her advice to families remains rooted in faith and togetherness. “Remember that you are a family. You have to work through things together and with God’s help. He will keep you and guide you through all these difficult times.”

After 42 years of walking alongside a policeman, O’Farrell understands that supporting those who protect communities begins long before they return home.

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