Ugu cops excel at national Saps awards
The officers were recognised for their dedication to their work.
The station commander at Margate, Brigadier William Slabbert and the Port Shepstone Search and Rescue team made the Ugu District proud at the Saps National Excellence Awards in Limpopo recently. Slabbert was named as winner in the national category – Senior Operational Manager of the Year Level 13-15.
The Port Shepstone Search and Rescue team of Warrant Officer Gawie Nel, Warrant Officer Romel Da Rosa, Constable Romano Thompson and Sergeant Mark Banjo, headed by commander Warrant Officer Francois Pretorius were awarded for their commitment and dedication as the First Runner-Up in the category – Medium Risk Team of the Year.
Under Slabbert’s watch during the 2021/2022 financial year, Margate station managed to significantly reduce among others: property crimes, residential burglary, business burglary, trio crimes, and drug-related crimes in the area.
Slabbert has sustained the reduction of housebreakings in the area which stood at 1 465 five years ago to 584 during 2021/2022.
With Margate being a popular holiday spot, Slabbert has consistently shown innovation by utilising the station’s budget for the deployment of the Mounted Unit to heighten police visibility and beach patrols during the festive season.
Slabbert was also instrumental in the establishment of a crime reporting office in Gcilima in consultation with the traditional authorities. He is resourceful and hardworking, and is passionate about service delivery.
He served as the station commander of Margate Saps from 2000 to 2007 and then took up a post as Visible Policing commander at Port Shepstone Saps until 2017, he was then reappointed as station commander.
The Saps held its annual national excellence awards to honour employees, reservists and Community Police Forum structures that have excelled in their duties in the 2021/2022 financial year.
The Saps National Excellence Awards recognises outstanding performance and selflessness in the line of duty.
This year’s awards ceremony boasted 42 categories with the Minister of Police, General Bheki Cele and the National Commissioner of Police, General Fannie Masemola each presenting additional awards in the special awards category.
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