Tumahole SAPS achieved third place in the Station of the Year category at the annual Provincial Awards, held at Woodlands Country Lodge on January 14.

The prestigious event was the last Provincial Excellence awards attended by Lieutenant General Baile Motswenyane, who retired at the end of January after 37 years of service in the SAPS.

As she addressed guests, nominees, winners, and sponsors, she expressed her gratitude to all members within the South African Police Service who worked tirelessly to ensure that the Free State is a safe province.

She highlighted the importance of ensuring safety in neighbourhoods as well as rural communities.

Speaking on behalf of the National Commissioner, General Fanie Masemola, who could not attend, Lieutenant General Lineo Nkhuoa mentioned that the awards are not only to celebrate individual achievements but to celebrate acts of bravery, acts of delicate investigation, and acts of effort to make neighbourhoods better places to live in.

The Laureate of the year was Constable Mhlambi from the Sasolburg Tactical Response Team. He walked away with a cheque of R50 000.

Constable Monica Delport of Dive Point 1, Sasolburg, on her turn, had the honour of receiving the Premier’s Award, handed to her by Premier MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae, during the farewell function of Lieutenant General Motswenyane.