Top cop calls ‘over and out’ on career

After more than 20 years of serving and protecting the people of the Eastern Cape, police spokesman Captain Stephen Marais called it quits this week.

“I was sent to Mdantsane where a security guard had gone on a shooting rampage, because of a love affair gone wrong. He left a trail of bodies everywhere he went that night,” said Marais, adding that of the 18 victims shot, 12 had lost their lives.

“That night we were out from 9pm Saturday until Sunday 4pm. There was no time to eat because of the media pressure.

While we were standing at the scene, we heard on the police radio that public order police had spotted the suspect and was chasing him. He was cornered in a yard and before they could get to him, he shot and killed himself,” said Marais.

Marais is sure he will miss the SAPS.

“I’m the sort of person when my phone rings in the middle of the night, I just get up and go. I don’t think twice. I will miss the adrenalin.”

However, one thing he won’t miss is the dark side of being a cop.

“Losing a colleague in the line of duty – there is no bigger loss than that because we are part of a family. Unfortunately, I have lost quite a few colleagues I have served with while in the police in East London.”

He said he was grateful he was still around to experience his parting of ways with the SAPS and while he had no intention of withdrawing totally, his parting shot was: “Don’t call me, I’ll call you”. — zwangam@dispatch.co.za