Durban - KwaZulu-Natal provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi honoured officers at an SAPS Excellence awards ceremony at Coastlands hotel in Durban on Wednesday night.
One of the big winners of the night was Colonel Bhekinkosi B Ntshangase, a detective from the provincial organised crime unit, who received the prestigious provincial police commissioner’s special award.
Shangase received an award, certificate, cash prize, and MSC cruise valued at R17 000 for himself and his partner.
Provincial commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi said the award recipients had served their province well and had gone above and beyond the call of duty.
Mkhwanazi said Ntshangase’s achievements had to be recognised.
“Sometimes we wake up in the morning and find out mass murders and rapes have taken place, and we don’t know who could have done this. It gives us the greatest sense of relief when suspects are arrested and convicted for these crimes.
“Colonel Bhekinkosi B Ntshangase, in the last year alone, through his investigations, resulted in a conviction where the person found guilty received five life sentences and an additional 65 years. Another conviction saw the person being found guilty receiving four life sentences and another 55 years, and a third conviction meant that the person received four life sentences and 73 years. This is only to name a few of the numerous convictions that are due to Colonel Ntshangase’s investigations.”
Ntshangase, 57, said that he was overjoyed and humbled to have received the provincial commissioner’s special ward.
“I'm so grateful and humbled. My job as a detective in provincial organised crime is to investigate serious crimes, including investigating mass murders where three or more people have been murdered.”
Ntshangase added that he had been a police officer for 34 years.
“I started in 1988 as a constable, where I was a member of visible police. I'm grateful to be able to serve my province, as it has always been my passion to be a policeman and serve the public by fighting crime.”