Five new police station commanders have been hired to beef up the war against crime at community level in the Eastern Cape.
The five stations have been without permanent commanders for several years since the incumbents retired.
The stations are in Mdantsane NU1, Mthatha, Lusikisiki, and Port Elizabeth’s Mount Road and Motherwell.
All five new commanders have been promoted from colonel to brigadier.
Former Makhanda and King William’s Town station commander Col Cassim Sayed, 43, takes over at NU1.
He will report to Brig Marinda Mills, who left her provincial communication head post earlier in 2018 to join Mdantsane as its deputy cluster commander.
Mills’s highly sought-after vacancy was also filled at the Monday ceremony.
Former Western Cape SAPS media centre commander Brig Tembinkosi Kinana, 52, takes the crucial post.
Kinana beat candidates well-known to the media: SAPS media relations head Col Sibongile Soci, section head for internal communication Col Michelle Matroos and Port Elizabeth area SAPS spokesperson Captain Priscilla Naidoo.
Mthatha police station’s new commander is Brigadier Asogran Naidoo, 44.
He will rely on his 27 years experience as a commander of stations such as Libode, Ngangelizwe, Mqanduli and Port St Johns, and as Mthatha station’s acting commander.
Brig Marius Groenewald, 53, is placed in charge of the Mount Road police station.
He has 37 years experience in the SAPS. At the helm of the second-largest township in the province, Motherwell, in Port Elizabeth, will be Brig Michael Solani, 56.
Lusikisiki police station is entrusted to Brig Wiseman Chiya, 52, who has 30 years experience.
At the official conferring of their new ranks, provincial police commissioner Lt-Gen Liziwe Ntshinga said the “tried and tested” officers were “capable, skilful, disciplined and dedicated officers”.
At the ceremony, Ntshinga also pinned stars on the shoulders of two new deputy provincial commissioners – Maj-Gen Zithulele Dladla and Maj-Gen Thobeka Daphney Kunene.
Brig Duduzile Ngculu, 51, is the province’s new head of organised crime.
Brig Shepard Cebo Khonza takes over as head of the family violence, child protection and sexual offences unit...