Amajuba ‘A-Team’ is named KZN’s ‘High-risk Team of the Year’ at SAPS Excellence Awards
Congratulations to Amajuba District's ‘A-Team’ who has tackled the most serious and violent crimes at great risk to themselves and their loved ones.
A special task force set up three years ago by Amajuba District police commissioner, General Fred Alexander, won ‘High-risk Team of the Year’ in the 2023 KwaZulu-Natal SAPS Excellence Awards recently.
Amajuba’s ‘A-Team’ beat Ethekwini District and the Port Shepstone K9 Unit, which were also nominated as finalists in this category.
The awards ceremony took place at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre (ICC) in Durban on Friday, September 29.
Colonel Bridget Yusuf, who took over the task force from General Alexander in December after being appointed head of the Amajuba District Command Centre, said the team tackled the most serious and violent crimes at great risk to themselves and their loved ones.
“The task force comprises police officers from different stations in the Amajuba District, who have been brought together to deal with crimes such as murders, taxi-violence, gangs, hi-jackings, armed robberies and the possession of illegal firearms and ammunition,” Yusuf explained.
According to Yusuf, the team currently has more than 30 cases enrolled in the High Court, most of which are at trial stage. In the past six months, the team has secured a total of 11 life sentences having solved several high profile cases.
“Since I have been overseeing the task force, there have been no incidents of taxi-related murders or political- violence,” said Yusuf.
“My members deserve this award. In fact, I feel it was long overdue,” Yusuf continued. “They investigate high profile cases despite the risk to their own lives, regardless of constant threats of violence. It requires enormous sacrifice and they never hesitate to give up their weekends or work after hours if they are required to do so. Going up there and collecting this award is an indication that the sacrifices they make are, finally, paying off.”
Col Yusuf also took the time to address the negative press one of the members of her team has recently been the subject of.
Sergeant Sibusiso Kunene, who is an integral part of the Amajuba special task force, was recently arrested by members of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) and charged with assault after a video of him kicking men who were lying on the ground, was shared on social media.
The men were subsequently arrested and charged with truck hi-jacking. Kunene was released on R1 000 bail the day after he was taken into the custody. Investigations into the assault case are ongoing.
“When one of my members was arrested, they did a great injustice, but that did not dampen his spirit to do his work and he still approaches every investigation with the same passion. This is his calling,” said Col Yusuf. “I believe there is a vendetta against Kunene, in which some of the people he has arrested ganged up and influenced those people to open cases against him. However, there are lots of people who appreciate the work he does who phoned with messages of support. Others went to court to show their support. Winning this award has also done a lot to boost his spirits after that ordeal.”
Col Yusuf went on to thank General Alexander, who she described as a walking encyclopaedia of knowledge and wisdom, for his support. “The General’s unwavering faith in God has really seen us through some difficult situations,” she said.
“I wouldn’t trade my team for anything,” Col Yusuf concluded. “The satisfaction we get is when justice is served. The award is just a bonus.”
“The satisfaction I get is when I see a smile on the victim’s face because we are here to serve them,” added Sgnt Kunene.
The Amajuba special task force is now automatically a finalist for the national SAPS Excellence Awards which takes place in Cape Town in January.
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