THOHOYANDOU - The spokesperson for the police in the Far North area, Capt Ailwei Mushavhanamadi, has set a trend in the South African Police Service (SAPS), as he graduated with an Honours degree in Police Science last weekend.

Mushavhanamadi first made the news in June last year when he obtained his BA degree in Criminal Justice at the University of Venda.

Mushavhanamadi started his primary education at Ngovhela Primay in 1967. He then attended secondary school at Guvhukuvhu and Mphaphulu where he matriculated in 1981. From there, he went to Gauteng where he worked at BMW South Africa, Isando, until he joined the police force in January 1984 at Sibasa. He then worked in the Venda Police Training College's Band Section. In 1985, he was transferred to the CID section in the Thohoyandou police station, where he worked until November 1996 when he became the spokesperson for Thohoyandou police station.

Because of a demand from the area commissioner and the community, Mushavhanamadi was transferred to the area office in Sibasa where he became the area manager for the communication officers in all twenty-one police stations in the far north.

Mushavhanamadi, who was then popular in the community because of his slot on Phalaphala FM every morning from Monday to Friday, was also empowered by doing courses in communication and management at Hammanskraal and other areas.

During his graduation party held at Ditike last Saturday, Mushavhanamadi was hailed by Area Commissioner, Masepa Maepa, guest speaker Dovhani Thakhathi and his colleague, Insp Jacques Du Buisson, as a hard- working and dedicated police officer and family man.

Du Buisson said Mushavhanamadi is a good leader who must also be regarded as a role model.

Maepa said the SAPS need dedicated and disciplined, educated police officers like Mushavhanamadi.

"All of us have the chance to decide what kind of life we want to live. So, Mushavhanamadi dedicated his life to serving the community in the right way. As SAPS, we are proud about him. He teaches us that we need to start to learn to live a meaningful life. Graduadually, we need to train others by living a meaningful life. We must teach our children to respect education by getting educated ourselves so that they can live a meaningful life."

"I have always known Mushavhanamadi as a dedicated SAPS member. Do not stop there," said Maepa while adding "on-behalf of SAPS, I say we feel proud of you." Mushavhanamadi also thanked his wife and three children for the sacrifices and the support they gave him.