The provincial Police Commissioner, Lt-Gen Amon Mashigo, retired this week after he had served the police service for 30 years. He was bidden farewell in Polokwane on Monday, 26 September.

He spent his last year in the SAPS as the Provincial Commissioner of Limpopo, after having been redeployed from the Free State last year.

The MEC for Safety and Security, Mr George Phadagi, wished Mashego well in his retirement. Phadagi depicted Mashego as a true and professional policeman, who had dedicated his life to the fight against crime.

"Lt-Gen Mashigo has not disappointed during his tenure as the Provincial Police Commissioner. The recently released the 2010/11 crime statistics bear witness to the good he has done for the people of Limpopo, in remarkably bringing down the provincial crime statistics. Limpopo has the lowest crime incidents compared to the other eight provinces," said Phadagi. He added that crime syndicates which had been wreaking havoc in the Makhado, Thohoyandou and Polokwane policing area had been smashed.

According to Phadagi, a strong message has been sent to career criminals from other provinces that Limpopo cannot be their playground. "All these strides in our fight against criminals have been made under the watch of Lt-Gen Mashego. It is therefore with a tinge of sadness that we today take leave of this crimebuster par excellence. On behalf of the government and the people of Limpopo, I thank him and wish him the best for the future," he emphasized.

Phadagi said, however, that he was confident that Lt-Gen Mashigo’s successor would find a solid foundation "to build upon as we continue the fight against crime and criminality." He said that the process to find a permanent replacement for Mashigo was at an advanced stage and an official announcement would be made at the appropriate time.