KZN cops clean up at awards

KwaZulu-Natal cleaned up at the annual SAPS National Excellence Awards.

Described by National Police Commissioner General Khehla Sitole as an opportunity to honour the country’s policemen and women “for the excellent service they render to their communities, and the SAPS as an organisation”, the awards were held at Durban’s Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre on Friday.

And KZN scooped several coveted titles, including “Best Station of the Year”, which went to the Port Shepstone police station.

Police management said that over the course of the last year, the South Coast station had managed to get murders, contact crimes, property crimes and trio crimes in the precinct down.

“Owing to limited resources, routine duties were arranged on a flexi-hour basis to address the needs and safety of the community. 

“Operations were scheduled during the early mornings, late nights and on the weekends. Members are readily available to work extra time with no remuneration,” management said.

“Regular cordon-and-search operations – as well as roadblocks – were conducted throughout the station’s policing area, at identified hotspots. These operations yielded good results in arrests for crimes such as possession of drugs, prostitution, illegal dealing in liquor, road traffic offences and drunken driving.”

The Community Policing Forum (CPF) of the Year award went to the Chatsworth CPF.

Police management said neighbourhood watches and street committees were established in the precinct, and that regular street patrols had led to a decrease in criminal activities.

“Identified drug dealers, their networks and other information received from locals was filtered through to the SAPS, thus enabling them to make regular arrests,” management said. 

“Problematic members of the youth were identified and a concerted effort was made to rehabilitate them.”

Umlazi K9 Unit’s Sergeant Sabelo Xaba scooped a Visible Policing Employee of the Year award for his work with the Organised Crime Unit, Commercial Crime Unit, National Security Intelligence, Cluster Task Team and Provincial Drugs Task Team.

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“He also achieved a number of successes through his own initiative and by conducting observation duties,” police management said. 

“Sergeant Xaba often performed duties seven days a week. He served the whole KZN province and assisted other provinces, as his dog Erika is the only trained currency dog in operation in the country,” police management said.

During the reporting period, Xaba effected 120 arrests.

He recovered 32 motor vehicles, R1.2 million in counterfeit money, 10 unlicensed firearms and ammunition as well as R1.3m in cash.

He also confiscated R3.5m worth of drugs and stolen property.

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“In one incident, Sergeant Xaba was called out to a flat in Durban Central. He conducted a search with his dog, and drugs with an estimated value of R3m were recovered. 

He immediately followed up on a lead and also recovered R700 000 worth of drug money, hidden on different premises.

Other KZN winners included:

**Hammarsdale police station’s Constable MA Khomo, who won the Man of the Year award.

**Lieutenant Colonel Masondo, who won the Sports Man of the Year award.

**The KZN Provincial Office’s Constable TS Magaza, who won an Administration Employee of the Year award.

**Warrant Officer D Govender won a Protection and Security Services Employee of the Year award.