In the pursuit for justice, there are men and women who walk where angels fear to tread. Police officers who face evil head-on, defending the weak. Investigating sordid cases that will leave many queasy and distressed.
These are the officers of the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit. Officers who help rape victims, child abuse victims, domestic violence victims and at times search for missing children.
These police officers who walk a thin line between sensitivity and strength. Dealing with the raw emotion of distraught victims. All the while, searching for the perpetrators. Villainous fiends who prey on children and women.
The hard work and dedication these officers put into their work on a daily basis has not gone unnoticed. The Newcastle’s FCS Unit proudly won three awards at the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Excellence Awards.
The event took place at the Coastlands Hotel in Umhlanga, Durban, on November 28.
At the event, Constable Thokozani Mthimkhulu clinched the first place in the Best FCS Investigating Officer in the KZN Province Division. Captain Nagesh Moothilal secured the title of second-best FCS commander in KZN, while Warrant Officer Senzo Qwabe received the award for second-best FCS unit in KZN on behalf of the Newcastle FCS Unit.
Winning three awards at the event speaks volumes about the dedication, commitment and passion the Newcastle FCS unit apply to their work.
But who are these men and what does their work mean to them?
Warrant Officer Qwabe is second in charge of the FCS Unit, overseeing all the investigators. At times dealing with the bulk of the investigations.
“I joined the FCS in 2008 and the award or second-best FCS unit in KZN means a lot to me. It shows we must continue working hard for the victims,” says Warrant Officer Qwabe.
Seen as the heart of the unit, Warrant Officer Qwabe says he loves his career. “For me, the FCS unit is important as we are there to help those who can’t defend themselves. I especially enjoy working with the children. They don’t have the power to defend themselves and can’t fight back. That is where we step in. The victims need someone to stand up for them.”
Warrant Officer Qwabe says one of the hardest parts of their careers is seeing the after-effects of the crime. “One of the most difficult parts of our job is seeing a victim seriously hurt, especially after a gangrape,” he emphasises.
Captain Moothilal has been with the FCS unit for four years. As the commander of the unit, he is actively involved with the investigating officers and their victims.
“I enjoy addressing crimes related to women and children, getting justice for them. Often, the victims are silenced from reporting the crimes against them. Especially incidents of rape, child abuse and domestic violence. Because of the suffering these victims face, I find immense joy in bringing the culprits to book,” Captain Moothilal explains.
As the commander of the unit, Captain Moothilal says the FCS unit is more than just an ordinary unit in the SAPS. “It is a specialised unit, where the members have special training. They also need to be psychologically strong, as a person can break very easy in this unit.”
Because of the emotional strain, the officers face in the unit, Captain Moothilal praises the members he works with.
“The guys are good at what they do. The number of cases that are solved, as well as to be nominated for three categories and to win three awards speaks for itself. With the cases we deal with, expert investigators with specialised training are needed. The investigators need to be both strong and sensitive. They need to be sensitive to deal with the children and women, but strong to deal with the culprits.”
As the unit is no stranger to receiving awards, Captain Moothilal concludes that he is glad that the officers are receiving the recognition for their hard work and dedication.
Constable Mthimkhulu joined the FCS unit in 2009 and has never looked back. “I enjoy dealing with cases where the suspect is unknown, finding him and making him known. I also like to work with cold cases and finding justice for the victims.”
A cold case is where a suspect isn’t identified. After a number of years, the case is then re-opened, and the suspect is traced through DNA, further information or through modus operandi. Constable Mthimkulu has recently solved cases that have taken place as far back as 2006.
Why is the FCS unit important for him?
“I feel it is important to work with women and children, as they often can’t defend themselves. As for the award of best FCS investigator in KZN, it really encourages me to continue with my work. Before receiving it, I wasn’t even aware that what I was doing was good enough. I was just following my calling in trying to help those in need,” he concludes.
Well done to the FCS unit! Captain Nagesh Moothilal, Warrant Officer Senzo Qwabe and Constable Thokozani Mthimkhulu are true heroes. Modern day knights who strive to protect the innocent in the pursuit of justice.
The team at Pixelfish Marketing and The Newcastillian, salute you and thank you for your outstanding commitment and dedication. We look forward to reporting on more of your successes in the very near future!
