Article by Capt André van Lill
Photographs by Capt Piet Smit

Station of the Year: SAPS Rondebosch of West Metropole Area

“Tonight is the evening to celebrate and say thank you to thousands of men and women in blue who every day wake up and ensure that the wheels of our democracy do not come off. Tonight is the night for us to pay tribute to them for their work over the past year. But as we celebrate and will be awarding men and women with trophies for what they have achieved, I must say that all of us are winners. Those who receive tokens of appreciation tonight, receive it on behalf of all of us and all their colleagues who work with them in the trenches on a daily basis.”

Speaking was the Western Cape Minister of Community Safety, Mr Leonard Ramatlakane, at the prestige award ceremony for the 2005 financial year. The event was hosted by Provincial Commissioner Mzwandile Petros at the Cape Town International Conference Centre.

To ensure that exceptional achievements and service delivery are acknowledged, the awards were divided into various categories.

THE WINNERS:
Public Service Act Employee of the Year: Principal Typist Botha, SAPS Steenberg
Support Services Employee of the Year: Insp Brooks, SAPS Steenberg
Operational Employee of the Year (Level 4-7): Insp Sindon, SAPS Bishop Lavis
Operational Employee of the Year (Level 8-12): Snr Supt Voster, ACCU East Metropole
Manager of the Year: Snr Supt Voskuil, Management Services
Operational Group of the Year: Maitland Flying Squad
Support Group of the Year: Provincial Communication Services
Reservist of the Year: R/Cst Mboma, SAPS Nyanga
Disabled Employee of the Year: Principal Telcom Operator Lucas, SAPS Parow
Catch of the Year: Sgt Gawie, SAPS Thembalethu
Sports Person of the Year: Typist Afrika, National Intervention Unit, Western Cape
Station of the Year: SAPS Rondebosch of West Metropole Area
Choir of the Year: Boland Area Choir

The evening was concluded with the presentation of an award to the Department of Community Safety for their astounding partnership with the police and community involvement, which enhanced the People’s Orientated Sustainable Strategy of the province in creating a safer home for all.

Before handing this award to the MEC for Community Safety, Mr Leonard Ramatlakane, Provincial Commissioner Mzwandile Petros commented, “In the Minister we have a visionary. Without a visionary I don’t think we would have been in a position to achieve what we have been achieving the past two years.” True words from a wise man.

Operational Employee of the Year (Level 8-12): Snr Supt Voster, ACCU East Metropole	Reservist of the Year: R/Cst Mboma, SAPS Nyanga
Catch of the Year: Sgt S Gawie, SAPS Thembalethu	Manager of the Year: Snr Supt Voskuil, Management Services

The MEC for Community Safety, Mr Leonard Ramatlakane receiving
the award on behalf of the Department of Community
Safety for their special partnership with the police from
Provincial Commissioner Mzwandile Petros