‘Everywhere you go, you have a purpose, a job to do. I am sure I can make a difference here in Potch.’
These were the words of the newly-appointed station commander of the Potchefstroom police station.
The amiable Brigadier Steven Moodley (53) who was appointed on 1 April, already has a whole host of ideas for reducing crime. The most important one is to involve the various roleplayers within the community.
‘We are here to serve the people. Our job is to create a safe, secure environment for the residents. Everyone can play a role in reducing crime, from the Department of Social Development, the security companies, the traffic officials and even the residents themselves. I want us to join hands, regardless of our political affiliation,’ he said.
Moodley brings a wealth of experience and dedication to Potchefstroom. This is a man who hasn’t taken a single day of sick leave since 1987 and who has been a station commander since 1990.
Originally from KwaZulu-Natal, he started his career at Chatsworth station in 1982. By 1990, he had been appointed as the station commander at the Broad Street station.
He has worked in Rosebank, Lenasia, Midrand, Kempton Park and, most recently, Edenvale.
‘Each station brings its own challenges but the problems here are not unique to Potch,’ said Moodley.
He is sure that with the experience he has gained and the team he has at his disposal, the crime rate in Potch can be reduced significantly.
‘It’s not rocket science, we need to apply the basics of policing. If there is something wrong, we’ll fix it. Most importantly, we need the involvement of the community. We need to forge relationships with community members,’ he said.
Moodley is planning what he calls a crime summit that will bring all roleplayers together to discuss the challenges that Potchefstroom faces and, together, come up with a plan to deal with crime.
‘We need to make mediocrity a thing of the past,’ he said.