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KNYSNA NEWS AND VIDEO - Knysna SAPS held their end-of-year function and prize-giving last week and handed out many certificates of appreciation for outstanding police members.
The function, held at Simola Hotel and Spa on Thursday 8 December, was a prestigious and happy evening for the police.
Knysna police station commander Colonel Atwell Metu said, “Tonight is an opportunity for us to take a good look at the year 2017, our achievements, and also to give special recognition to those who performed exceptionally well during the past year.”
To the recipients of the awards, Metu said "reap the fruits of their toil" as their efforts had not gone unnoticed.
He acknowledged the contribution made by the Knysna CPF as well as their achievement for being selected as the best community police forum in the Western Cape for the second consecutive year, and in the country.
Colonel Metu also thanked members of neighbourhood structures, volunteers and partners who supported the police.
“A lot of progress in the fight against crime has been noted in the past three years. We’ve embarked on a number of operations during the past year to keep our communities safe and among us we arrested an average of 300 suspects a month for serious and minor crimes,” said Metu.
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'Responsible drinking campaign on track'
Adding to this, he said, drug and alcohol abuse remain the key contributors to crimes, especially assaults and domestic violence incidents, but that the police were focusing on this area.
“A decision was therefore taken to start a campaign addressing the abuse of liquor.
"Our responsible drinking campaign is on track and we hope to bear the fruits of the different initiatives that are being launched in different sectors,” he said.
Among some of the officials who scooped awards on the night belonged to the crime prevention unit, who won the Catch of the Year award.
They were Constables Nenow Petersen, Warren Ackerman, Heinrich Appels and Benjamin Windvoël as well as Sergeants Pierre Herwel and Virgil Cornelius plus Warrant Officer Phillip Nqayi.
They seized drugs worth more than R600 000 and arrested *two suspects from Knysna and Port Elizabeth respectively in Knysna on 18 January 2017.
The Eden cluster commander, Major General Oswald Reddy, commended these members.
“The special focus on suppliers of drugs is starting to bear fruit and the arrest of these suspects will also send a message to would-be suppliers and peddlers of drugs.”
Constable Jason Bruiners received an award for most drug arrests.
Warrant Officer Reginus Quine was named best detective in Knysna, and was also honoured for best sentence for trio (serious and violent) crimes and best docket management.
Quine was instrumental in the arrest of the couple connected to the **Hunters Home double murders.
Before handing Quine his award, Lieutenant Colonel Siddique Khan said, “In a recent meeting with the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in George, the NPA acknowledged that Warrant Officer Quine is the best detective when it comes to trio crimes in the Southern Cape.”
Public-private partnerships instrumental
Metu also spoke about the value of public-private sector partnerships, “These partnerships must be jealously guarded because they are dealing with crime syndicates.
"It is a good example of just what is possible when the two sectors unite and work towards a common goal.”
Over 30 awards were handed out on the evening.
Metu said during the festive season operations will be conducted until January 2018, focusing on visible policing and conducting operations on illegal firearms, patrols at all tourist destinations, armed robberies, and cash-in-transit activities, including prioritising crime against women and children, and keeping shopping centres safe.
Knysna executive mayor Eleanore Bouw-Spies delivered her keynote speech and congratulated the winners and expressed her appreciation to the police.
* The suspects, Graven Greeff (29) and Hagen May (30) appeared again at the Knysna Magistrates court on Thursday, 07 December. This case was postponed to 14 May 2018 for the Regional court and trial. Both these suspects are currently out on bail.**
Thulani Vambayo and his wife Sandiswa Bibini were arrested in Peddie and Port Alfred respectively for the murders of Brian Davis (67) and his wife Christine Anne Davis (64) during a robbery at their home in Lindsay Street on 1 August 2015.
Although Bibini was found not-guilty last year, her husband was handed down two life sentences for the murders and an additional 15 years for robbery with aggravated circumstances.
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