Mthatha's organised crime unit, the Hawks, which is credited for ending Sakhumzi Mvoko’s reign of terror in the province, has been crowned the best unit in the Eastern Cape.
The unit, the only one in the province headed by a woman, received the accolade at the police excellence awards held in East London on Friday night.
Its boss, Major Nokuzola Ngxola, 46, told the Daily Dispatch that the award followed another recognition – that of being the best organised crime unit in the country last year, by National Police Commissioner General Riah Phiyega.
Major Ngxola and her team of 15 detectives not only brought down Mvoko. They also arrested two police officers accused of killing Elliotdale station commander Lieutenant-Colonel Nomalizo Dukumbana.
Constable Noxolo Matya, 37, was sentenced in September to life imprisonment for the murder and a further 18 years for conspiracy to murder.
Ngxola – who juggles her career with raising six children and church duties – wakes up every morning to fight crime in seven police clusters comprising more than 30 police stations. The clusters are Mthatha, Port St Johns, Mount Ayliff, Matatiele, Mqanduli, Mount Frere and Mount Fletcher.
Commenting on the prestigious award she said: “We managed to achieve the award because we prioritise all our cases.
“We open the docket at the crime scene, not the police station, and we do not have a stand-by team.
“When a war has been declared out there, we all go as one team.
“My members are not afraid to take dockets because they know the information in each and every docket that we handle.”
Provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Celiwe Binta was her inspiration.
“I love her very much. She inspires, motivates and supports me. When you feel supported you achieve great things,” said Ngxola.
She thanked provincial Hawks head Brigadier Kholekile Galawe for having faith in her.
She said the team was currently investigating an armed robbery in August, where R2-million was taken from a grocery store in Lusikisiki.
“We have already cracked that case with suspects arrested,” said Ngxola.
She encouraged police officers to pray off-duty. “I know we wear bullet-proof vests at all times but God is our first bullet proof. We must also pray that he calms the suspects down when we are responding to stress calls because they can become very dangerous,” said Ngxola. — zwangam@dispatch.co.za
Reward for team effort
The unit, the only one in the province headed by a woman, received the accolade at the police excellence awards held in East London on Friday night.
Its boss, Major Nokuzola Ngxola, 46, told the Daily Dispatch that the award followed another recognition – that of being the best organised crime unit in the country last year, by National Police Commissioner General Riah Phiyega.
Major Ngxola and her team of 15 detectives not only brought down Mvoko. They also arrested two police officers accused of killing Elliotdale station commander Lieutenant-Colonel Nomalizo Dukumbana.
Constable Noxolo Matya, 37, was sentenced in September to life imprisonment for the murder and a further 18 years for conspiracy to murder.
Ngxola – who juggles her career with raising six children and church duties – wakes up every morning to fight crime in seven police clusters comprising more than 30 police stations. The clusters are Mthatha, Port St Johns, Mount Ayliff, Matatiele, Mqanduli, Mount Frere and Mount Fletcher.
Commenting on the prestigious award she said: “We managed to achieve the award because we prioritise all our cases.
“We open the docket at the crime scene, not the police station, and we do not have a stand-by team.
“When a war has been declared out there, we all go as one team.
“My members are not afraid to take dockets because they know the information in each and every docket that we handle.”
Provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Celiwe Binta was her inspiration.
“I love her very much. She inspires, motivates and supports me. When you feel supported you achieve great things,” said Ngxola.
She thanked provincial Hawks head Brigadier Kholekile Galawe for having faith in her.
She said the team was currently investigating an armed robbery in August, where R2-million was taken from a grocery store in Lusikisiki.
“We have already cracked that case with suspects arrested,” said Ngxola.
She encouraged police officers to pray off-duty. “I know we wear bullet-proof vests at all times but God is our first bullet proof. We must also pray that he calms the suspects down when we are responding to stress calls because they can become very dangerous,” said Ngxola. — zwangam@dispatch.co.za
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