He was once South Africa’s top detective-constable, but a lack of promotion and pay increase has forced him to quit his job as a Mdantsane serious violent crimes investigator.
Detective-Constable Lusanda Nkatazo yesterday told the Dispatch he had resigned his post to further his studies.
An emotional Nkatazo said: “I did not join the SAPS for money but a man has to provide for his family and consider his future prospects. That is the point of all the hard work”.
His resignation comes as a serious blow to the SAPS as he has received a few awards as a top detective. In 2014 Nkatazo was crowned best junior detective in the country at the SAPS National Excellence Awards.
And a year before, he bagged the Detective of the Year award at the Eastern Cape SAPS Excellence Awards for having led investigations that resulted in the highest conviction rate in the province.
The 31-year-old father of one is graduating later this month with a diploma in policing and has enrolled for a three-year LLB degree with the hope of becoming a successful prosecutor.
His sudden departure comes hot on the heels of a Mdantsane court judgment which saw two men, Odwa Nama, 21, and Mkhululi Ndlela, 28, being found guilty of robbery and rape, and sentenced to two life terms in prison. The investigation was led by Nkatazo.
Three years ago, Nkatazo’s investigative work ensured the conviction of Mdantsane’s most notorious and wanted suspects, Phumzile “Chicken” Dyani and Nyameko “Msawawa” Msothi, in the Bhisho High Court.
Dyani, already serving a 30-year jail term for multiple robberies committed in the province, was sentenced to a further two life terms in jail for murder.
Msothi was sentence to 30 years in jail for armed robbery and murder. The pair were convicted and sentenced for murdering 67-year-old Ntombizanele Bonani in 2010.
Nkatazo said although he was leaving, victims of crimes were still calling him to inquire about the progress of their cases.
“Sometimes I just want to cry thinking that I have failed them by quitting, but this is my life we are talking about,” he said.
Mdantsane police spokesman Lieutenant Nkosikho Mzuku said: “The SAPS is interested in retaining some of its best-performing personnel within the organisation but at the same time employees who want to pursue other career option outside SAPS cannot be held back from doing so”.
SAPS left reeling after top Mdantsane cop quits
Detective-Constable Lusanda Nkatazo yesterday told the Dispatch he had resigned his post to further his studies.
An emotional Nkatazo said: “I did not join the SAPS for money but a man has to provide for his family and consider his future prospects. That is the point of all the hard work”.
His resignation comes as a serious blow to the SAPS as he has received a few awards as a top detective. In 2014 Nkatazo was crowned best junior detective in the country at the SAPS National Excellence Awards.
And a year before, he bagged the Detective of the Year award at the Eastern Cape SAPS Excellence Awards for having led investigations that resulted in the highest conviction rate in the province.
The 31-year-old father of one is graduating later this month with a diploma in policing and has enrolled for a three-year LLB degree with the hope of becoming a successful prosecutor.
His sudden departure comes hot on the heels of a Mdantsane court judgment which saw two men, Odwa Nama, 21, and Mkhululi Ndlela, 28, being found guilty of robbery and rape, and sentenced to two life terms in prison. The investigation was led by Nkatazo.
Three years ago, Nkatazo’s investigative work ensured the conviction of Mdantsane’s most notorious and wanted suspects, Phumzile “Chicken” Dyani and Nyameko “Msawawa” Msothi, in the Bhisho High Court.
Dyani, already serving a 30-year jail term for multiple robberies committed in the province, was sentenced to a further two life terms in jail for murder.
Msothi was sentence to 30 years in jail for armed robbery and murder. The pair were convicted and sentenced for murdering 67-year-old Ntombizanele Bonani in 2010.
Nkatazo said although he was leaving, victims of crimes were still calling him to inquire about the progress of their cases.
“Sometimes I just want to cry thinking that I have failed them by quitting, but this is my life we are talking about,” he said.
Mdantsane police spokesman Lieutenant Nkosikho Mzuku said: “The SAPS is interested in retaining some of its best-performing personnel within the organisation but at the same time employees who want to pursue other career option outside SAPS cannot be held back from doing so”.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos