Margate Police Station is the best in the province
The station, which services a large population, beat 184 other stations in the province to clinch the award.
Margate SAPS has earned top honours at the SAPS Provincial Commissioner’s Excellence Awards, which took place at Coastlands Umhlanga Hotel last Friday.
The purpose of these awards is to give recognition to SAPS employees whose hard work has enabled the organisation to fulfil its mandate to serve and protect.
Margate SAPS, under the command of Brigadier William Slabbert, was named the 2017/18 station of the year. Brig Slabbert took over as station commander in June 2017.
The station, which services a large population, beat 184 other stations in the province to clinch the award.
Rounding out the top three were the Nyoni and Newcastle stations.
In an interview with the Herald, Colonel Alan Grainger, who accepted the award on behalf of the station, said this was a big boost for morale and gave officers hope that they were on the right path.
Colonel David Nala, Colonel Armstrong Machi and the station’s spokesman, Sergeant Sibusio Ncane, joined the interview.
Colonel Nala said the bar was now set high for them to go the extra mile.
“This does not mean we will stop, there is always room for improvement.”
Colonel Machi added that the award could also be attributed to the hard work displayed by local community policing forums, Ray Nkonyeni Law Enforcement, reservists, sector managers, the business community and bank forums.
“These stakeholders play a pivotal role.”
The trio joined Col Grainger in commending Brig Slabbert, whom they said had striven to ensure communication channels were thorough and open in order to achieve good results.
The officers added that a significant drop in the crime rate could be ascribed to police visibility and teamwork from all members.
“We are extremely proud of our members, there is a massive improvement,” Col Grainger said.
The Margate team also brought home the best tracing team award, presented to Warrant Officer Michael Welsh.
The Ugu Cluster received the best detective in the province award which went to Captain Jaques Buys and Warrant Officer Zandisile Mbekwana from Harding SAPS was named second runner-up in the sportsman of the year category.
Ugu Cluster Commander, Major General Sethenya Nxamagele said she was extremely proud of Margate SAPS and the three members from the Ugu Cluster who excelled and encouraged others in her cluster to work harder and smarter and aim higher to achieve awards.
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