Limpopo Hawks’ Pitjeng takes his final bow
The Limpopo Hawks recently bid Limpopo Hawks Head of Special Operations Captain Nare Christopher Pitjeng farewell, shortly after his resignation from service.
POLOKWANE – Pitjeng is described as a true paragon of law enforcement, having served the South African Police Service since 1982, carrying out 35 years of uninterrupted service.
He took the first step towards his law enforcement career by enrolling at the then Hammanskraal Training College in 1982. Upon the successful completing of his basic training, he was stationed as a Const at the Polokwane SAPS branch before being transferred to the Musina SAPS branch in 1983.
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He later decided to delve into the Metal and Diamonds Specialised Unit in 1986, working for this particular unit until he joined the Serious Organised Crime Unit in 2007.
Prior to his resignation, Pitjeng was working in the Asset and Forfeiture Unit.
“I started working with Capt Pitjeng in 2016 when I joined the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation. Tell you what, Capt Pitjeng is a versatile and an easy person to work with. Whenever he was given work to do, he would do it without grumbling no matter how big the pressure that comes with the work given to him would be,” Limpopo Hawks Spokesperson Capt Matimba Maluleke explained.
He also added that Pitjeng would always acknowledge the work given to him with a sincere smile or by means of a laugh. “Many of his colleagues will agree with me that he is a happy man. He never came to work looking dirty, no, it never happened. He was a very neat person. His clothes always looked clean and his shoes would glitter all day long,” Maluleke added. Apart from his well kept image and his determination, Maluleke believes that Pitjeng’s flexibility, is one of the main reasons as to why he was able to complete his law enforcement journey without encountering any stumbling blocks.
During the ceremony, Maluleke showed his gratitude not only to Pitjeng but to his family who have supported him throughout his career. “I would like to express my gratitude on behalf of the DPCI and the South African Police Service as a whole. We would like to say thank you for supporting your husband in his career. The support that you gave to your husband made it interesting to work with him. To his children, know that your father was not a burden to us, but he was one of the pulling bulls,” he said.
Pitjeng took his final bow, showing his gratitude for the immense support and bidding those in law enforcement farewell, with a piece of wisdom.
“At times life is difficult and you need the support of the people close to you so that you can soldier on. It is my belief that my life was made easier by the support of my family. Great leaders measure their greatness by their absence. This is a call to each and everyone of us here to ensure that our legacy is in people. Jesus Christ once told his disciples that it was better for him to go away so that they can be great. He said his absence was their greatness. Let us make sure we leave an unforgettable mark in others’ lives,” Pitjeng concluded.
