Local police and representatives of the community safety sector were honoured for going beyond the call of duty in foiling a recent hijacking, which culminated in the recovery of the stolen vehicle and rescue of a toddler, during a special awards ceremony hosted by the Public Services Commission (PSC) last Thursday (14 July).
The event was held to commend all role-players who aided the success of Gordon’s Bay police, Gordon’s Bay Security (GBSec), Somerset West and Lwandle crime prevention units, Strand, Grabouw and Gordon’s Bay police, Overberg Flying Squad and Reaction Team, Metro K9 Unit, and JJ Recoveries.
Among the special guests were PSC Commissioner Leonardo Goosen, provincial minister of Police Oversight and Community Safety Reagen Allen and acting Khayelitsha Cluster commander Major General SW Dyantyi, and local ward councillor Sean Stacey.
“What you do unto the least of me, you do unto me,” said PSC provincial director Paul Rockman, introducing the event, which took place at Gordon’s Bay Primary School hall. “Because of a two-year-old we are here today, a testament to the power of the most vulnerable in society, but certainly reflective of how adults responded to that. You are all aware of the incident and that it had a tremendously happy ending, which we are so grateful for.”
DistrictMail & Helderberg Gazette reported on the incident and what transpired after a Toyota Avanza was stolen from a Grabouw preschool with a two-year-old in it on Friday 6 May (“Authorities nab ‘car thief’, rescue child,” 11 May).
Thanks to the commendable joint effort of police and crime-fighting counterparts the vehicle was tracked, flagged down and recovered on Clarence Drive (R44) outside Gordon’s Bay. A 27-year-old suspect arrested.
Rockman further highlighted notable praises from various published reports. He read one: “Within minutes, private security, traffic, police and neighbourhood and farm watches mobilised, and in less than an hour a rescue followed. This tells me a couple of things: there wasn’t hesitation or territory and jurisdiction matters coming into play. Just let’s do what is good.”
Rockman added that the awards ceremony was inspired by Goosen, who felt compelled to pause, express gratitude and acknowledge the good work done by the public sector’s “bright lights”.
In an address, he stated the South African Police Service together with the entire public sector was under severe pressure in terms of resources, staff capacity and levels of crime.
“Very often policemen and women work under very, very trying circumstances, and generally what is reported in the media are the negative stories, part of the crisis of confidence in state institutions, including the police, that currently prevails.
“The police’s achievements in the face of the difficulties and challenges they face need to be reported on, but so often government fails to highlight the positives that inspire the ordinary man and woman, let alone the police official, to do better and to replicate what happens in one area.
“And as I thank you, I want to leave the police leadership with a challenge, because as a public service we are very good at making plans and devising strategies, but we fail implementation and are poor at learning from best practice. So my challenge to you is to harness the success and try to replicate the model.
“We sometimes become demoralised, feeling that whatever we do is not making any impact. Know that what you do and how well you do it has an impact on the community, your colleagues, and hopefully will be passed on to the next person and police station.
“There will be many challenges, and we need to draw strength from ceremonies such as this. There is no moment to rest, but continue striving to be better. Your journey is not ended; the province, the country needs you, our communities need you, so continue the good fight.”
Dyantyi expressed the pleasure of being present for the opportunity to commend officers of the local police station and their crime-fighting partners who worked through the barricades, which could otherwise have cost the success of the incident.
He commended all role-players who, following a call from the community to save a life, felt it his or her own duty to contribute whatever necessary. “I would like to say thank you for the work you have done, the example you have set.”
Allen, in turn, expressed his delight in being present, seeing it as welcoming and heart-warming, a celebration as a young life, relationships with the safety sector and the relationship of trust built transformed forever. “We want this to reverberate not only in the City of Cape Town and province, but throughout the country,” he said.
Allen is reinvigorated by such positive stories as newly appointed provincial minister, reaffirming his assent to taking on the role.
He said investigating, monitoring and evaluating public services and administration are vital, referring to the spirit of cooperation and collaboration which, he believes, is true to the spirit of the Constitution.
It’s importance is not even lost on the criminals themselves, playing an important part in their own operations, he added.
“If criminals could adopt a cooperative approach, this spirit, why can’t we? Your story is a clear example of what working together can do.”
Allen said collaboration is a principle the province relies on implicitly.
