Address by General MV Phiyega at the National Excellence Awards Ceremony, Gauteng
Minister of Police, Mr Nhleko
Deputy Minister of Police, Ms Sotyu
All Divisional and Provincial Commissioners
All senior managers of the SAPS
Representatives of sponsors
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen, I greet you all and welcome you to this wonderful evening of celebration. Today, we as the South African Police Service, are honouring remarkable individuals who have gone out of their way to protect and serve the people of South Africa with pride.
We are saying ‘well done’ to those members of the SAPS who continue to do sterling work and who positively touch lives in our communities. We are also awarding their selfless sacrifices, hard work and dedication in ensuring that the SAPS succeeds in its constitutional mandate of creating a safer and orderly country for all.
As the National Commissioner of the SAPS, I am honoured to work with professionals who adhere to exemplary work ethics. Members who are results driven, who recognise the important task bestowed upon the SAPS and who do their best to ensure that it is realised. As the employer, the SAPS continually strives to recognise excellent performance by employees and remains committed to efforts of enhancing professionalism, in line with the National Development Plan.
The 2015 National Excellence Awards are recognising the outstanding efforts of this calibre of member. These awards are about the promotion of excellence, diligence and sacrifice - attributes that every member of the SAPS must always endeavour to cultivate. In our line of work, we are always required to give more of ourselves every day. We are expected to protect and serve and be prepared to always think of others before ourselves. We cannot be selfish, arrogant or unprofessional. It is the sacrifice that every member joining our organisation, must be prepared to make.
Through the SAPS’s Front-Line Service Delivery Project, launched late last year, we are prioritising effective and efficient service delivery. We are saying that police officials and all personnel who work for the SAPS, must at all times ensure that they are professional in their work, passionate in serving our people and dedicated to fighting the scourge of crime in our society.
To all the nominees and achievers, I am delighted to have you as members of the SAPS. I know that it is not easy to see our organisation as the subject of scrutiny and the efforts of honest, hard-working members such as yourselves, being undermined by the criminal conduct of a few corrupt officials in our ranks. I would like to reassure you that we notice your hard work and dedication and we are committed to deal with those who continue to tarnish our image. Those few rotten apples will be ousted and those who are loyal to our organisation and who are concerned about the safety and well-being of our people, will be rewarded.
Each one of you must take pride in yourselves and accept these awards as a symbol of pride. Those who have reached important milestones in their careers, should equally be proud of their achievement. I also commend all managers and commanders who are nominated this year for leading by example. When you lead with excellence, your team will respect you as leader and will follow suit. Together you will achieve success.
Those who work with us in communities through CPFs, as well as all our reservists - your efforts are also of great importance in eradicating crime. Your selfless acts and dedication do not go unnoticed either.
In closing, ladies and gentlemen please allow me to congratulate all the nominees leave you with a quote from Maya Angelou, which I feel is applicable tonight:
What is a fear of living? It's being preeminently afraid of dying. It is not doing what you came here to do, out of timidity and spinelessness. The antidote is to take full responsibility for yourself - for the time you take up and the space you occupy. If you don't know what you're here to do, then just do some good.
Maya Angelou
Thank you.
