While many residents enjoyed Christmas with their families, the Honeydew Community Policing Forum (CPF), supported by locals, continued its annual tradition of hosting a festive lunch for officers on duty – a gesture of gratitude for their service and sacrifice.

Honeydew CPF public relations officer Michael Steyn said the initiative is a way for the community to acknowledge the commitment of police officers, who often spend the festive season away from their loved ones.

“The festive season is a time of togetherness, joy and family, yet for many of our police members, Christmas Day is spent on duty protecting the community,” Steyn said. “This lunch is our way of saying thank you and letting them know that their service does not go unnoticed.”

He explained that the initiative goes beyond simply sharing a meal and serves as a gesture of solidarity between the police and the community.

“Through this small but meaningful act, we want officers to know that the community sees them, values them and appreciates everything they do, especially during the holidays,” he added.

The lunch was made possible through contributions from residents, reflecting the strong relationship between Honeydew police, the CPF and the community. Steyn also extended special thanks to Ranjini Maharajh from Spice Traditions for donating additional drinks and a cake for the officers on duty.

“This tradition has become a symbol of unity and appreciation,” Steyn said. “For those spending Christmas away from their families, we hope it brought a moment of warmth and festive cheer during a demanding day.”

He added that initiatives like the Christmas lunch continue to strengthen co-operation and mutual respect between the community and local law enforcement.

“We thank everyone who contributed and, most importantly, we thank the members of Honeydew police for their unwavering dedication to keeping our community safe,” Steyn concluded.