Vanderbijlpark: The Fezile Dabi District hosted its annual Excellence Awards ceremony for 2025 at Meriting Events in Vanderbijlpark. The event saw attendance from notable figures, including Free State Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Baile Motswenyane, alongside Fezile Dabi District Commissioner, Major General Makubo. The ceremony commenced with an opening and scripture reading by Captain (Rev) Letsheleha, followed by a welcoming address from Member of the Mayoral Committee, Mr. Oupa Matwa.
According to South African Police Service, the Fezile Dabi District CPF Chairperson, Mr. Williams, and Mr. Jimmy Shi from the South Africa Free State Fujian Overseas Chinese Association, offered messages of support to the award recipients. They also acknowledged the collaboration with the Fezile Dabi District in combating crime.
Major General Makubo highlighted the purpose of the event as a celebration of outstanding performance within the district. Lieutenant General Baile Motswenyane praised the event's organization and emphasized the dedication of the police force in serving the community. She noted the importance of community collaboration in policing and fighting Gender-Based Violence.
The General further acknowledged the district's efforts, particularly regarding crime contributions from Gauteng, and shared an incident involving a police officer who was overpowered but managed to detain a suspect. The General commended all award recipients, urging them to continue their dedicated service.
The Bravery Award was the highlight of the day, presented to Constable M Mhlambi, who also received a laptop sponsored by Mr. Jimmy Shi. Awards were distributed across various categories, including Administration, Vispol and Operations, Specialized Units, and Station of the Year, the latter being awarded to Tumahole SAPS.