MONTAGU – Seven members of the Montagu Police Station have been promoted, including the new detective commander, effective from 1 November.
The former Captain Kwena Magwai was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel, while the former Warrant Officer Inus van Huyssteen, a senior investigating officer at the station, is now captain and appointed branch commander of the Montagu detective service.
He was acting commander since the post became vacant in December 2021, when the previous commander moved to Lentegeur Detective Branch in Mitchells Plain.
Capt van Huyssteen, with 33 years’ service in the police, 30 of which were spent as an investigating officer in the detective environment, completed his National Diploma in Policing at Unisa in 2000.
He also completed, among other courses, the collection of non-intimate forensic DNA in 2015 at the Provincial Training Western Cape Institution.
Lt Col Magwai, who successfully applied for the post of Vispol Commander at the Thembalethu Police Station in George, completed his National Diploma in Policing at Unisa in 2010 and his B Tech degree in Policing in 2015. He must take up his post at the Thembalethu police station not later than 1st December.
Magwai said he had mixed emotions regarding the new developments in his career.
On the one hand he is happy and excited for the promotion, but on the other he feels sad because he must say goodbye to the Montagu community to whom he has got so attached.
“Since I’m leaving Montagu, I want to thank the community of Montagu in general. The law enforcement agencies, the external partnerships, CPFs, security companies, neighbourhood watches, faith-based organisations for the support they`ve given to us as police.
“Our business is crime prevention and on our own we cannot achieve that objective without the support of these role-players.
“I will miss the people of Montagu. I always think of you, and I believe that, as the police as a service provider, our doors should always be open for anyone who want to raise anything so that we can attend to it.
“People must not be scared to come to the police station and raise issues or complain about anything. Our doors are always open for that.
“Thank you for the support we got. It has been a good period that I spend here in Montagu. I`ll always have a special place in my heart for the people of the town.”
Van Huyssteen said he too is very happy to be promoted, and is also thoroughly aware of the challenges and responsibilities that comes with the new job.
Given his career of more than 30 years in the service, he feels confident and equipped for the challenging task that lies ahead.
The newly appointed detective commander outlined his vision and objectives he wishes to focus on.
“I wish to focus more on social crime prevention,” he said, “because I believe we must put more emphasis on the parent’s house, the education of our youth as well as address drug abuse by the youth. That’s our biggest problem area at this stage.
“Alcohol abuse is also a big concern. That’s where most of our crimes originate. Children steal from their parents to feed their drug and alcohol habits.
“Another concern is parents abusing alcohol, being intoxicated and fighting in front of their children, a culture or habit has been carried over to the kids.
“I also want to encourage awareness of detectives’ work in keeping the community informed. We can start by visiting schools and talking to the learners because they are the leaders of the future.”
Other members promoted were the former Sgts Brendon Moses, Devon Opperman and Donovan Fredericks, all to the rank of warrant-officer.
Constables Thersia Andreas and Bevan Jones were promoted to the rank of sergeant.
