Mitchell’s Plain police station officers were acknowledged for their service and commitment to going beyond the call of duty to reduce crime in the area.
Members of the community and the Western Cape Government submitted their praise and gratitude to station commander Brigadier Cass Goolam, who hosted an appreciation day on Thursday September 30.
Alfred John Manuel, from Portland, thanked Sergeant Detective Errol Bedford and Detective Ashley Campbell for their “brilliant detective work” into the murder case of his son Dimitri Donovan Manuel in 2018.
“May you experience many more successful cases. Thank you for trying to keep our communities safe,” read the letter.
Andre Page, from Westridge, said thank you to Brigadier Goolam, Colonel Cleo Arnoldus, and Colonel Anthony Roux for not allowing petty crime to fall on deaf ears.
“We appreciate all you do and we believe that with your support we will eventually regain ‘control’ of our area,” he wrote.
In August DA member of the provincial legislature Ricardo Mackenzie had also commended Brigadier Goolam, Lentegeur police station commander Colonel Errol Merkeur, visible police head Lieutenant-Colonel Harry Brickles and their teams for the “incredible leadership role they played in leading the safety initiatives to keep our communities safe particularly during the recent unrest in South Africa”.
Lieutenant-Colonel Patricia Ann Raphael, 60, who retired after 39 years of service thanked God and all station staff, from the cleaner to Brigadier Goolam.
“I followed my calling and I can proudly say that I have protected and served,” she said.
Lieutenant-Colonel Raphael started as a student police officer at Manenberg police station in 1982 and two years later she moved to Langa where she completed an 11-year stint in the detective branch.
Between 1996 and 2009 she worked in the West Metropole area commissioner’s office, the provincial office and at Philippi police station. For the next five years she was based at Muizenberg police station filing claims by the State regarding its assets, including properties, vehicles and firearms.
Lieutenant-Colonel Raphael also presided over hearings to hold police officers accountable with regards to the damage of vehicles or loss of firearms and bullet proof vests.
“I am proud to have served,” she said.
It was a day of celebrations for Brigadier Goolam as he celebrated his birthday and opened the station’s gym to help keep members fit.
