ADDRESS BY EXECUTIVE MAYOR, ZANOXOLO WAYILE – 31 JULY 2012

RETIRMEN OF MAJOR-GENERAL KAPP AND DERTIFICTIONS CEREMONY

FEATHER MARKET CENRRE

Thank you for this opportunity.

  • Major-General Kapp
  • Captain Beetge
  • All the units and services of the South African Police Services present
  • Senior officials of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality present, notably Dr Chabula,
  • Mr Burmeister,
  • Mr Grey,
  • Mr Mazomba,
  • Mr Vermaak,
  • Mr Van Der Merwe,
  • Pastor Hendricks
  • Other private individuals
  • Ladies and gentlemen

On behalf of the Municipality, I would like to thank the South African Police Services for their very gracious gesture in inviting me and other representatives as guests to the wonderful ceremony we have just witnessed, the official leave taking of Major-General Johan Kapp by his cluster. Watching the ceremony, I was once again impressed by the rich tradition, discipline and protocol associated with the South African Police Services.

It is not only the SAPS and the Motherwell Cluster that are taking leave of General Kapp today, but the entire community of Nelson Mandela Bay. It is rare that one comes across such a wonderful record of service to the community spanning a full forty years. Major-General Kapp is a man of integrity, of dedication to his work and, maybe most importantly, a servant to the people.

His unique ability saw him rise through the ranks of the Police Service very rapidly, from his humble first position as Student Constable in 1971. His leadership positions include that of Area Head of Crime Prevention in East London, Area Commissioner of Mthatha, up to his present position as Cluster Commander of Motherwell.He is truly a career officer, a professional policeman in the best sense of the word.

It is evident from all reports by his seniors and his peers and those serving under him, as well as our experience of him as communities, that there was no slacking in his work ethic and dedication when he reached the pinnacle of his career. Not all of you will know that on 18 April this year Major General Kapp received his Masters Degree in Public Administration, the only one of twenty two generals/brigadiers who enrolled for this Degree to do so at this stage.

Not everybody will know that the General was a keen sportsman in his day, who played rugby for the Police.

Ladies and gentlemen, words somehow seem cheap when one has to pay tribute to a wonderful career of forty years. Major- General Kapp, on behalf of the Council, officials and communities of the Nelson Mandela Bay I wish to thank you for your service to the community and for the real difference you have made in the safety and security of residents and visitors to the beloved Bay.I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your contribution and sacrifices and for the example of discipline and dedication you set for your peers throughout your career.

May I add one final observation.Major-General Kapp, in the course of your career you experienced many changes, notably the transition to a democratic government in 1994. Under both governments, you commanded the respect and trust of your employer and the communities you served. Very, very few people can lay claim to this in South Africa today. You survived radical changes and transitions with your honour and reputation intact. For that, I want to especially pay tribute to you today.

I now come to a part in my address that I trust will be a pleasant surprise for most of you. It concerns a very tragic incident in the history of our Metro. I am referring to the drowning of six rugby players of the Motherwell Rugby Team earlier this year. We mourn the loss of six young men in the prime of their lives, but we are very grateful that fifteen could be saved. \

I said earlier thatMajor General Kapp retained his dedication and commitment to his duties to the communities of the Metro to the very end of his career. The rescue mission and subsequent and the subsequent retrieval of the bodies of the drowning victims showed a unity of action, a dedication and a commitment between all role-players, notably between the Municipality and the many units of SAPS who acquitted themselves so wonderfully of their difficult task. The Municipality acknowledges the important role that SAPS plays in keeping NelsonMandelaBay a safe and secure place and is deeply grateful for its major contribution in the rescue and retrieval operation around the drowning incident. The response by all role-players to this incident showed what NelsonMandelaBay is all about: compassion, caring and ubuntu.

The Municipality felt deeply that it had to give some tangible expression of its gratitude for the many institutions and people, those who assisted and those who refused to give up during the incident, who so selflessly gave of their time. Your joint efforts ensured that the tragedy was contained to six victims only and that the bereaved families were able to lay their loved ones to rest, bringing them a sense of closure.

One man led the efforts: Major-General Kapp, who acquitted himself wonderfully of his duties as commander of the JOC Centre during the search for the bodies of those who had drowned. He refused to give up and insisted that the search continue long after the period after which searches of this nature would normally be called off.

When the terrible incident occurred, only the people on that beach could give immediate assistance. I wish to bring tribute to the private lifeguards on duty at the BluewaterBayBeach on that day. Mr Dave Bomber deserves special mention. Please convey my sincere appreciation to your lifeguards, including the nippers. They are all heroes in our eyes.

General Kapp, please come forward to receive a Certificate of Appreciation for your services as JOC Commander.

Gen JJ Kapp

Captain Beetge, SAPS Communications

SAPS K9 Unit Port Elizabeth

SAPS K9 UnitPort Alfred

SAPS Swartkops Vispol

SAPS Swartkops Detectives

SAPS Bomb Disposal Unit

SAPSPort of Entry

SAPS Emergency Services

SAPS Employee Wellness Centre

SAPS Airwing

SAPS Local Criminal Record Centre

SAPS Mounted Unit

NelsonMandelaBayMunicipality:

Dr M Chabula, Executive Director, Public Health

Dr Chabula played a key role especially in the initial phases after the reporting of the drowning incident, drawing on every ounce of her massive experience of our local communities and her wisdom as a leader. Of key importance was the counselling work she did and comforting she provided.

Mr Roelf Basson, Director Office of the Executive Mayor

Allow me to pay special tribute to my Office Manager, Mr Roelf Basson. Some of you may know that Mr Basson is an ex-police officer himself. That old loyalty shone through very clearly in the aftermath of the incident and I know that his contribution in facilitating, liaising, informing and communication was invaluable during the period. I wish to thank him for that. I am proud of you, Roelf.

Mr John Best, JOC Commander

Metro Environmental Services
NMBM Mounted Police

Mr Fernando Caine, Beach Manager

Private individuals

Shaun Burmeister

Ian Grey

Mr M Mazombasa, Motherwell Rugby Club

Mr Frans Vermaak

Mr Willem Van Der Merwe

Pastor Tim Hendricks, Organised Prayer Groups