Lieutenant General Elias Mawela retires after 39 years of service
SAPS bids farewell to Gauteng provincial commissioner Lieutenant General Elias Mawela as he retires from service.
National commissioner of the SAPS General Fannie Masemola has, on behalf of the service, wished the Gauteng provincial commissioner Lieutenant General Elias Mawela well on his retirement.
Mawela hung up his hat on January 31 as he bowed out after 39 years of uninterrupted, loyal and dedicated service.
Mawela joined the SAPS as a student constable in 1984 where he started serving in the Mamelodi policing precinct and worked his way up in the ranks to the level of Lieutenant General in 2011.
He has served in a number of senior roles and capacities including that of deputy area commissioner of Pretoria, component head of border policing, divisional commissioner of operational response services and NATJOINTS chairperson.
For the past five years, he served as a provincial commissioner on a five-year contract.
Masemola praised Mawela for being a great operator and the epitome of a servant leader.
He said Mawela has accomplished a lot during his illustrious career by fostering strong relations with communities and various key stakeholders in the fight against crime which ultimately gave birth to his brainchild, O Kae Molao.
O Kae Molao saw Gauteng police officers embark on high-density operations to trace wanted suspects, confiscate illegal goods and recover illegal and stolen vehicles and firearms. This ultimately birthed Operation Shanela.
Masemola said Mawela has left the organisation richer as his legacy will be used by future police generations.
“This is a commander who has left an indelible footprint as an operator in all units, stations and components he has led. A true operator, and a man of action. To him it didn’t matter where he was deployed to; he served the people of South Africa for the past four decades with sheer diligence and commitment.
“It has been an honour to serve alongside you. We will miss him and wish him well in his retirement. Thank you to his family for allowing him to serve,” said Masemola.
The SAPS have already embarked on a recruitment process to fill the vacancy of the provincial commissioner.
