Quick thinking cop gets award
2008-05-08 18:43
Walter Ka Nkosi
Northam - A policeman whose quick thinking enabled two dangerous criminals to be convicted and sentenced within just 12 days after their crime, has been given a certificate for outstanding work.
Inspector Samuel Serake Temane, 41, who works for the organised crime unit at the Northam police station in Limpopo, instantly linked two burglary suspects to a separate case in which a female security guard was raped during a robbery at a shopping centre on January 16.
"It's an honour for me to receive such an award. I definitely owe it to all my colleagues that I work with in the station," said Temane humbly this week.
Temane, who has been a policeman for 19 years, received the certificate from Northam station commissioner Superintendent Eric Schmitz last week.
"Hard work had paid dividends for a job well done. I'm proud to say that he strongly deserves it," Schmitz said.
Arrests
Temane's quick thinking ensured that Thulane Makhosini, 26, and Themba Matinyane, 25, of Thabazimbi were convicted in the Thabazimbi regional court on January 28.
Makhosini is serving 10 years for rape and 12 years for armed robbery, while Matinyane is serving 12 years for armed robbery.
The two men had forced one of two security guards at the shopping centre in Northam to break the window of the cellphone shop and then took cellphones worth thousands.
Makhosini then raped the female security guard while Matiyane kept watch over the male security guard and threatened to shoot him in the head if he moved.
Both the guards were robbed of their cellphones and the suspects fled.
The guards helped police draw up identikits, which were distributed widely with an offer of a reward.
A week later, when the men were arrested for a separate burglary in Thabazimbi, the case was handed to Temane.
Temane immediately realised they were the same men involved in the Northam incident and they confessed under his careful questioning.
They handed over the two security guards' cellphones and some of the demo cellphones that were stolen from the shop.
They also gave written statements, which allowed the case to be processed swiftly in court.
Temane joked that he won't retire before 99.9% of all lawbreakers are behind bars.
He said he would leave the 0.1% to be arrested by junior constables who are new in the police force.
- African Eye