Acting National Commissioner's welcome address: National Excellence Awards
Programme Directors
Minister of Police, Mr Nkosinathi Nhleko
Deputy Minister of Police, Ms Maggie Sotyu
Chairperson of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Police, Mr Francois Beukman
MEC for Community Safety in Gauteng, Ms Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane
MEC for Community Safety and Liaison in the Eastern Cape, Ms Weziwe Tikana
MEC for Education he Northern Cape, Ms Martha Bartlett
MEC for Community Safety and Liaison in the Northern Cape, Ms Pauline Williams
MEC for Police, Roads and Transport in the Free State, Mr Butana Komphela
Deputy National Commissioners
Divisional Commissioners
Regional Commissioners
National Head of the Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigation, Lieutenant General Mthandazo Ntlemeza
Retired Free State Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Calvin Singane ,
Retired Limpopo Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Amon Mashigo
Retired Deputy National Commissioner (Dr) Mala Singh
Senior Officers
Members of the South African Police Service
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen
Good evening.
It is my pleasure to welcome you to the 2016 Annual South African Police Service National Service Excellence Awards.
The 2016 Annual South African Police Service National Service Excellence Awards serve to honour those who have dedicated their lives towards fighting crime and ensuring that all South Africans are and feel safe.
The awards also allow for peers to exchange best practices and motivate each other to continue contributing positively towards delivery of much improved policing services to the people of this country.
In this vain I would be failing in my duty if I do not honour all the true heroes who made the supreme sacrifice of their tomorrows so that we might live in peace today. The heroes who have given their lives in the line of duty in order that their fellow citizens might be safer, their neighborhoods more secure, and their communities and country not only stronger, but more just.
But let us not forget that they are not the only ones who made a sacrifice, but also their mothers and fathers, husbands and wives, sons and daughters are who have been left behind to carry on and find meaning in their tragedy.
It was them who gave a smile as they saw their loved ones off in the morning, and whispered a silent prayer that they would see them return that evening. But some evenings stretch into an endless night, and sometimes the morning never comes.
Honourable Minister, when officers go above and beyond the call of duty, it’s incumbent upon us to recognise them.
Events such as this highlight the risk taken every day by our officers in order to protect our communities. When everyone else is running from danger, police officers run towards it to serve and protect the public.
Honourable Minister, we all know how committed most of our members are, wearing the badge with pride. When they leave their homes to start their shift they do not know what the day will bring, what situations they will deal with and dangers they may face.
I must say, it is a unique job and the citizens of this country owe our police officers a debt of gratitude for the sacrifices they make on their behalf.
Honourable Minister, we are here to recognize the very best of the best.
The word “excellent” is one we use a lot of times. We use it so much that we tend to lose sight of its true meaning.
People smarter than I am have struggled with defining excellence. Booker T. Washington (an educator and civil rights leader between 1890 and 1915 in the USA) defined excellence as doing a common thing in an uncommon way.
If we are going to achieve excellence in big things, we must develop the habit in small matters. Excellence is not the exception; it is a prevailing attitude.
Many suggest that excellence is the end product of always doing more. We may never attain perfection, but in chasing perfection, we might catch excellence.
You see, even smart people struggle with this.
Perhaps it’s one of those things that defy definition or characterization, but you know it when you see it.
- You see it in the people here today who have worked to keep our neighbourhoods safe from gangs, drug traffickers, and killers.
- You see it in the people who have locked up white-collar criminals and corrupt public officials. And in those who have protected children from predators hiding on our streets and online.
- You see it in people who have created new ways to stop emerging cyber threats. And in those who have taken our forensics and biometrics programmes to entirely new levels.
- You see it in our colleagues who have managed huge programmes with limited resources—programmes that enable us to do what the taxpayers need and expect us to do. And in the men and women who have fostered leadership, diversity, and comradeship—those who have manifested the values that make the SAPS special.
One daily publication captured it correctly this past Monday when paying tribute to Constable Oupa Kubheka whose sterling detective work led to the 20-year conviction of radio DJ Donald Sebolai for the murder of his girlfriend Dolly Tshabalala.
The publication’s editorial observed that the focus usually “understandably tended to be more on what we, as the police, get wrong; we as society should not turn a blind eye when they do good”.
Honourable Minister, Constable Kubheka’s story is not an isolated case. There are many others like him. Perhaps we need to get into the habit of acknowledging such sterling work more often.
At the risk of being accused of throwing around platitudes I cannot resist the urge to quote a passage of scripture that I think reflects the kind of attitude that has been displayed by the heroes and heroines the excellence awards seek to acknowledge.
In the book of Luke 17 verses 7 to 10, a very interesting analogy is given of a relationship between a servant and his master where the former is not given special recognition because “he did what was commanded” but rather he is admonished, “When you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘I am an unworthy servant; I have only done what was my duty’.”
The A-Team (Police Management) that is championing this course, we all know from our own lives that change can be difficult.
But, once embraced, change can also be enriching and invigorating. And once the change has been made it is often difficult to imagine that it was any other way in the first place.
Coming back to the event of tonight, I therefore want to salute all our nominees on behalf of the SAPS management and thank you for your service. These awards recognise that you are all role models. You are setting the standard. Your performance is the benchmark on which others are judged.
You understand that in the performance of your duties, there is always room for kindness and compassion. This does not mean, nor should it mean, breaking the rules or favouritism, but rather understanding the human element, providing assistance and showing empathy. We are here to identify with and serve the people.
Honourable Minister, I must confess that I continue to be inspired by members of the SAPS who value this noble profession. I cannot fail to also acknowledge that there are those who serve excellently outside of the spotlight, making invaluable contributions to place us where we are today. We owe them our greatest gratitude too.
In line with the “Back to Basics” approach, we have committed to ensure that the newly restructured South African Police Service will be able to have a serious hold on crime and criminality; we committed to ensure that our core operational responsibilities such as policing and crime detection including the emphasis on Management Interventions will be responsive to the current societal challenges and demands. We are steadfast on those achieving those resolves as well as the fact we are of the view that we are on track to make those a living reality.
In conclusion
To each and every one of you.
Congratulations on making it as finalists in a very competitive environment.
You all are winners – every one of you.
Keep the badge intact as your robe of honour.
Allow me Honourable Minister, as the acting National Commissioner of the South African Police Service to welcome you all and declare the 2016 South African Police Service National Excellence Awards officially open.
I thank you.
