Gauteng's outgoing top cop lauded as ‘man of action’
National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola has described Gauteng’s outgoing top cop, Elias Mawela, as a man of action.
Mawela will hand in his badge after nearly 40 years of service. He has been at the helm of the provincial police for the past five years and will retire when his contract expires on Wednesday.
Mawela is best known as the brains behind the O Kae Molao crime-fighting campaign, later expanded to a national level as Operation Shanela.
"He has served in a number of senior roles and capacities including that of Deputy Area Commissioner of Pretoria, Component Head: Border policing, Divisional Commissioner: Operational Response Services (ORS) and Natjoints Chairperson," says national police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe.
Masemola said the key to a lot of Mawela’s accomplishments was his ability to foster strong relations with communities.
"This is a commander who has left an indelible footprint as an operator in all units, stations and components he has led. A true operator, a man of action. To him, it didn't matter where he was deployed to. He served the people of South Africa for the past four decades with sheer diligence and commitment," added Masemola.
SAPS says it has already begun a recruitment process to fill the vacancy of Gauteng provincial commissioner.
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