On 29 May, the Cape Town Central City Improvement District (CCID) honoured 84 of its public safety officers (PSOs) with long service awards acknowledging those with five and ten years with the organisation.
Says Muneeb “Mo” Hendricks, manager of CCID Safety & Security: “Our PSOs and the teams that support them in our 24-hour control centre are on duty around the clock, irrespective of the conditions on the streets, to ensure that the public remains safe in our CBD. But what we are particularly proud of is that these 84 employees who are celebrating long-service awards as members of our team make up nearly one-third of our full deployment of 270 officers. This is an outstanding achievement in a very tough industry.”
The CCID’s on-the-street public safety team is contracted via Iliso Protection Services which is a 100% BEE- and female-owned operation lead by CEO Thuli Sanqela and managed by MD Louis Rademeyer.
Addressing the awardees during the ceremony, Louis said: “I’ve been in the security industry for over 30 years and will say that the CCID contract is our most challenging one because the CBD is a dynamic place that’s always changing. While many have come and gone, I’m proud that you have been here for all these years. I’m proud of your commitment. Thank you for sticking it out through the cold winters and hot summers. There aren’t enough words to express what you do to make the Cape Town CBD a safe place.”
Says CCID CEO, Tasso Evangelinos: “When you have a dynamic team like this in the lead and in the field, remarkable achievements are the order of the day. We’re also extremely proud of the fact that eight of the team members we’re honouring with long-service awards are women, who are out in the field right alongside their male colleagues. We’re also very proud that many of these PSOs have moved up through the ranks, having started by walking the beat and who are today themselves managers and control room operators.”
Two of those who have both been honoured for 10 years of service include husband-and-wife team Christopher Qebetu and Amanda Dyani, who started as foot officers on the street. Amanda is today a senior controller in the call centre, while Christopher has moved on to the ranks of mobile driver and shift manager, before becoming the CCID’s logistics officer.
Says Mo: “Christopher today handles all operations in terms of our body worn cameras as well as the safekeeping and downloading of footage. He also runs checks on our vehicles and equipment and provides training to our shift managers. Amanda has moved up from being a PSO to a junior controller and today she is the senior controller on shift responsible for the electronic capturing of all incidents that occur in the CBD. The couple have both made solid careers for themselves and we’re extremely proud of them, and indeed all our officers.”
Speaking after the ceremony, Christopher said: “It means a lot to be recognised for your hard work. This is a day that I will never forget; this is my first medal ever, no one has ever done something like this for me.” He added that his love for working with people and making them safe is a great motivator.
Commenting on the occasion, Thuli said it was heartening to see her employees being recognised in this way by a client: “Generally, this is unheard of and goes to show the significance of the partnership between the CCID and Iliso, which is based on shared values and a common purpose. We’re in it together and have a mutual vision of keeping the Central City safe. We’re more than just partners and it’s wonderful how we have grown as Iliso with the CCID over the years.
“But today was about the men and women who fly the Iliso flag with distinction over and over again; I applaud them for their hard work and commitment.”
Louis also echoed Thuli’s sentiments on the good relationship between Iliso and the CCID formed over the years: “It makes me proud to have a client that is intricately involved in our operations, subscribes to our values and walks with us.”
Images by Carola Koblitz, CCID Communications Manager
First image: CCID Public Safety Officer Pelokazi Mbaxa is congratulated on five years of service by CCID manager of Safety and Security Muneeb Hendricks.