“A man of big stature. A legend.”
These were among the praises heaped on Colonel Louis Geldenhuys, outgoing head of the Hermanus Police Detectives Branch, who retired last week after serving in the police service for nearly 42 years.
He started his career in the South African Police Service on 1 December 1981, and was based at Hermanus Police Station for the past 23 years.
He started his career as a constable at Cape Central Police Station. In 1988 he was promoted to the rank of sergeant.
He was promoted to lieutenant in 1994 and transferred to Stellenbosch police. During his career he also served in the Fire Arms Department and the Anti-Gang Unit.
In 2000, he moved to Hermanus where he was stationed as head of the Detectives Branch, a position he served in until his retirement at the end of May.
In this time he transferred to the Kleinmond Police Station, where he served as head of detectives for eight months before being promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel and transferred back to Hermanus.
“It’s been quite a journey,” he told Hermanus Times. “There have been a number of highlights like the heavy sentences we got in the High Court for the murderers of Hannes Kleynhans, who was killed in April 2009 and the recent case where Aimsley Witbooi was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder.”
He described serving in the police as a “thankless but fulfilling job”.
From the tributes his colleagues paid at the farewell it was clear Geldenhuys, or Gellie as he was affectionately known, made a lasting impression and left big boots to fill.
Colonel Luthando Nosilela, Hermanus Police Station commander, stated: “Today is our last farewell to a colleague, friend, father and legend.”
Hermanus Community Policing Chair Eddie Holloway described Geldenhuys as a man who led from the front. “I only ever experienced Geldenhuys at his best,” he said.
Lieutenant-Colonel Winston Coetzee, Gansbaai Police Station commander, stated Geldenhuys had left an indelible footprint and a “legacy of enormous value”.
In her tribute Colonel June Maarman stated that Geldenhuys was fortunate to listen to these tributes “while he is still alive” as this is something most often done at someone’s funeral.
Brigadier Leon Hanana, the Provincial Head of the Serious and Violent Crimes Unit, described Geldenhuys as a true detective, building strong cases by putting all the pieces of the puzzle together.
“True detectives, those guys who get up at night to peruse a docket or return to a scene countless times and pray to God to reveal what is missing, are very scarce nowadays.
“We heard how everyone ticked the boxes of what Geldenhuys leaves behind.
“He inspired hope for the future by taking people under his wing and training and grooming them. Through this he leaves the riches of his knowledge and abilities behind.
“Thank you for 42 years of blemishless service,” Hanana concluded.
