ALTHOUGH many families in Durban South look forward to relaxation and celebrations during the festive season, there are people in the community who continue to work behind the scenes. They sacrifice personal time to keep communities safe, not only during the festive season but all year round.

Also read: Community heroes recognised for their work in Durban South

Among these heroes is Dhevan Govindasamy of PT Alarms and Garrith Jamieson of ALS Paramedics, two people in the Durban South area who have become well-known for their dedication to ensuring public safety.

Dhevan Govindasamy

Early career life

Govindasamy, spokesperson for PT Alarms, has been on the frontlines of private security since January 2018, when he joined them as a reaction manager. Later, he became a tactical manager and then spokesperson. His work, he says, involves much more than just patrols and alarms.

“Protecting life, whether it’s our clients or other people in the community who may be in danger, is one of my most important roles,” said Govindasamy. “When I am in a life-threatening situation, I confront danger head-on and attempt to defuse a situation before it turns into violence. Then, if a life threat situation turns into violence, my goal shifts to protecting non-combatant life,” said Govindasamy.

Day in the life

A typical day for Govindasamy begins at 05:30 and in most cases extends late into the night. Govindasamy said that his job clashes with his personal life, but he gives credit to his family for being very supportive.

“There is not really a normal life. When the call comes, the adrenaline starts pumping, and I am out the door. Even when I am trying to enjoy my time off, social media allows all of these updates, and you can never really disconnect completely,” said Govindasamy.

Making sacrifices

Although the job comes with many personal sacrifices, Govindasamy said he relies in knowing that he is impacting another person’s life.

“If I can make a difference in people’s lives, even if it is just one, it will be all worthwhile. Many people make requests for assistance without expecting a return response. I think it is important to go above and beyond because one day it may be me or my family in need of assistance,” said Govindasamy.

Although he had other dreams, such as becoming a police officer, Govindasamy feels he is still living out this passion, just in a different manner.

Govindasamy thanked God for looking out for him, thanked his family for being with him all the way and thanked his team for being behind him all the time.

Garrith Jamieson

Early career

Also working to safeguard and keep the community informed is Garrith Jamieson, director and public relations for ALS Paramedics. Jamieson established ALS Paramedics in November 2020 and brings 25 years of experience in the ambulance/EMS sector as an advanced life support paramedic.

Day in the life

Jamieson said that being in such a sporadic field, requires you to always be on the ball. “I am always working 24/7, 365. My phone can ring at any time of day, and we have to be ready to respond immediately,” he said.

Jamieson said that the demanding nature of his work poses a challenge between balancing his work and personal life. “I believe that it can only be achieved when a family is supportive in understanding the nature of emergency response work,” he said.

Making the sacrifices

His personal motivation, especially during peak festive season, is not only focused on lifesaving but also creating public awareness because people want to know what is going on.

Jamieson is living out his passion each day, as becoming a paramedic has always been his dream. “It was a dream of mine to become a paramedic after years of watching programmes of emergency rescues,” he said.

While Jamieson plays a large part in keeping the community safe, he also credited his team as the real heroes.  “The control room staff right through to management and all paramedics out there making lives better, without them, I am nothing,” said Jamieson.

While Durban South residents are celebrating and carrying on with their daily lives, these men and their teams are working through emergencies at all hours of the day and night, silently and unrecognised. Their commitment reminds us that not all heroes wear capes.

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