Chatsworth SAPS won the ‘Station of the Year’ award at the prestigious KZN Provincial Excellence Awards for SAPS ceremony which was held last week.
Communications officer of Chatsworth SAPS, Captain Cheryl Pillay, was delighted when she scooped the ‘Woman of the Year’ award while Fazana Mahomed of Bellair SAPS received second place in the ‘Admin of the Year’ award and Malcolm Pillay, chairperson of the Bellair CPF and his team won the ‘CPF of the Year’ award. The station commander of Chatsworth SAPS, Brigadier Ruth De Villiers, was overwhelmed to be the recipient of this prestigious award. This achievement speaks volumes of the commitment from the personnel and management as well as the Chatsworth Community Policing Forum who have played an integral part in this fight against crime. “I must acknowledge Major General Kevin James, my predecessor of the Chatsworth police station, who played a pivotal role in the station achieving this award,” said Brig De Villiers.
She said that Chatsworth SAPS has aligned itself with the strategic objectives of the SAPS which is to serve and protect the inhabitants of the country. Brig De Villiers said: “At the inception of the financial year, the senior management of the station together with the personnel set the objectives and desired goals that would be achieved as per the Station Annual Performance Plan for 2021/ 2022. “Forming part of this Station APP is the Chatsworth Community Policing Forum who also aim to achieve the strategic objectives of the station. Every member at the station plays an integral part in the planning process, as a station, to achieve the desired objective and goals as a station. It is through this interaction and value of each employee that Chatsworth SAPS has gained inroads in fighting crime.” The Chatsworth SAPS Serious and Violent Crimes Unit secured sentences for violent criminals who were incarcerated for ten years and above. Police have achieved targets which were set by the National Office, especially drug-related offences.
This has been achieved with the assistance of whistleblowers who furnished information on illicit drug activity in the precinct. They also form part of the Provincial Campaign ‘Not in my name, Not in my generation will the SAPS be tarnished’. Five constables from Chatsworth SAPS have been chosen as ambassadors by the KZN Provincial Commissioner to form part of this campaign. The station has been highlighted in the video created with the Provincial Commissioner depicting young members who are bringing recognition to the station in a positive way. “The station has a group of dedicated women and men who form part of the Women Network and Men for Change. The team engages with stakeholders and externally to be beacons of hope for the SAPS. The team has been acknowledged on various platforms for their dedication and commitment to the organisation. “The team works over and above their duties, collectively applying their skills and talents to ensure that we make a difference in the lives of people. My advice to other stations is teamwork makes the dream work. Stay true to your calling which has been placed upon your life when God calls you to be police officers.
“The mandate placed upon the angels in blue is clear – serve with the integrity of heart, treat every client with respect and dignity. If we want to win this fight against crime, we need to engage with the community who will be the support structure needed to be pillars of strength and also aid as the eyes and ears for the police,” said Brig De Villiers. Captain Cheryl Pillay, who won the ‘Woman of the Year’ award, has been serving in the police force for the past 32 years. Her career in SAPS commenced in 1990 when she terminated her services as a researcher for Standard Bank to enlist in the SAPS. After completion of her basic training at the Chatsworth Training Academy in 1991, she was transferred to Soweto West where she started her policing career.
She said: “I started in Soweto then known as District 65, Soweto West. I was blessed to work with a team of skilled police officers at Lenasia SAPS who groomed me and shaped me into the police officer that I am now. I worked as a detective investigating crime in Lenasia. I returned to Durban after my late father had taken ill. I have worked in the operational environment of policing at Bayview SAPS, Montclair SAPS, Malvern SAPS and currently at Chatsworth SAPS since 2011. “Upon receiving the award, I felt overwhelmed and truly appreciative of the kind gesture bestowed upon me by the Provincial Commissioner of KwaZulu-Natal. I have been rewarded for the selfless acts that I have endeavoured to undertake while serving as the communications officer at Chatsworth SAPS. “I was in awe of God’s faithfulness to me as his daughter and as my name was announced, I experienced a feeling of appreciation for excellence coupled with tears of joy. All I could think of as I walked down the red carpet was my late parents who have made me who I am today. This joyous reward of excellence is dedicated to my late mom who was called to rest last year.”
Capt Pillay said that the life of a police officer is to be in danger all the time, therefore they need to have God’s protection over their lives. “My husband, Malcolm, does not work for the police. However, over the years, he has been my lifeline in prayer and comfort. There have been numerous times where my life has been placed in danger, however, God’s protection has given me breath for another day as a police officer,” she said. Some of the other accolades that Capt Pillay received were from Sinika Uthando in 2015; Word of Hope Ministries in 2017, 2018 and 2022; Antioch Ministries 2018; SAPS National Excellence Awards Woman of the year in 2016; KZN Provincial Excellence Awards Woman of the year in 2016 and KZN Provincial Excellence Awards Woman of the year in 2017. “The motto at Chatsworth SAPS, to the youth, is to dream it, believe it and achieve it. The world is your oyster. You should never allow yourself to digest what is said about you,” Capt Pillay concluded.
Fazana Mahomed (38) of Bellair SAPS received second place in the Provincial Excellence Awards in Admin of the Year. She said: “I have 14 years of service in SAPS and was always stationed at Bellair SAPS but have been seconded to the Provincial Crime Registrar KZN for about six years. I have recently also received a monetary award and am awaiting a certificate of commendation from the national commissioner.” Chairperson of Bellair CPF, Malcolm Pillay, said that they were truly honoured to have been nominated and have ‘won’ such an accolade. “As much as we do not serve the community for accolades, being awarded for such gives us that much of a boost to press a little bit more. The nomination was from SAPS Bellair. The criteria was basically how the CPF functioned and what it accomplished within the allotted period. Motivation was from within the station, based on their records. “We are elated, yet humbled. Without our community – the people on the ground – this would not be accomplished. Community is our motto, our people must be united for anything to be accomplished. This is what we use to build our community and fight crime. We still have a long way to go, but together, we can make a difference. “Our relationship with Bellair SAPS has truly become one of partnership. There is such a willingness to support and work with each other from both sides. The management of SAPS, as well as their Social Crime Prevention team, willingly supports the CPF – on all levels. Our recently retired station commander, Lieutenant Colonel Ramchunder, played a very pivotal role in achieving this relationship,” said Pillay.
