Breytie Breytenbach

Our community finds itself in a season of increased crime of all kinds, from petty theft to serious violence and even murder. Ironically it is also the season of goodwill, of caring and of handing out gifts.

In the spirit of this season of goodwill I want to offer the community’s appreciation to all the police officers of Boschkop SAPS for their contribution to the well-being of our community during the past year.

The SAPS has its own Code Of Conduct which has an impressive introduction, saying “We, as Police Officials of the South African Police Service, commit ourselves to the creation of a safe and secure environment for all the people in South Africa . . .”

This past year it must have been hard for our police officers to keep their minds and hearts on this commitment, while daily working with the shady side of life in our Bronberg area. Just imagine what it must feel like to deal with break-ins, theft, assault, rape, violence and other crimes for the biggest part of every working day.

One wonders if police officers can still maintain a basic trust in humanity and in members of the Bronberg community. We usually aren’t very appreciative of the sacrifices these people have to make so that we can live a fairly normal life.

And yet, a mother reported to me how comforting it is for her to see our police doing patrols at night. She especially appreciates the opportunity it gives her to teach her child that police officers are there to protect us from at least some of the evils in our world. I want to remind police officers of their power to bring a feeling of security to the hearts of children who look up to them as heroes. Without realising it, their nightly patrols allow small people to sleep and dream at leisure.

According to the Code Of Conduct, police officers undertake to “render a responsible and effective service of high quality which is accessible to every person and continuously strive towards improving this service”. One Zwavelpoort resident is especially impressed about such service she received after requesting an investigation into a possible illegal shebeen. Another person remembers how a police officer went out of his way to trace the owner of a suspect vehicle, which in the end turned out to be an illegally registered car, used for criminal activities. And let us not forget all the times we need a Commissioner of Oaths to sign documents.

In March a young girl was tragically killed in a motor car accident in Hans Strijdom Drive. She was an only daughter and her parents found this accident extremely traumatic. The mother remembers with great appreciation how the two police officers at the scene kept her child’s handbag safe until it could be handed over to her parents. Her personal belongings obviously have special meaning for the family, and will be part of the memories this mother will cherish for the rest of her life.

Such is the impact police officers have when they “contribute to the reconstruction and development of, and reconciliation in our country”, as the code prescribes. This bouquet of good feelings from members of the community is presented to the Boschkop SAPS as a Christmas gift. We all hope that it will inspire police officers to be true to their Code Of Conduct in the new year, and all the years ahead. Thank you, Boschkop Police, for being there for us.

For more information, phone Breytie Breytenbach at 012-802-1532.