SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE
HONOURING WARRANT OFFICER (AROO / WILLIAM) ARUMUGAM MOODLEY: A LIFETIME OF DEDICATION AND DISTINGUISHED SERVICE
Warrant Officer (Aroo / William) Arumugam Moodley is a beacon of integrity, courage, and commitment in the South African Police Service. From his early days at SAP Bellair in 1953 to his retirement in 1984, he served with unwavering dedication through times of social challenge and transformation. His investigative acumen, leadership, and exemplary conduct earned him the respect of colleagues and the admiration of the communities he protected. A man of principle and humility, Warrant Officer Moodley’s nearly three decades of service reflect not only professional excellence but also a deep devotion to justice and humanity—a legacy that continues to inspire generations of officers who follow in his footsteps.
Moodley was born on 1929-05-25 born in Bellair, Durban, the son of an Indentured labourer from India.
Some Indian people were also housed at the Bellair Police Station under
tents as presented in the Kodak photo taken at the station.
1949 Riots refugees behind the old Bellair Police Station off Coedmore
Road (Photo taken by Lorraine NM Raw) – a resource obtained by Mr
Khaleel Kazi.
Constable Moodley, clad in the black summer uniform, holding a newspaper walking along a street in the CBD of Durban during 1953
(This photograph was kindly colourised by Ms Jenny Bosch.)
Constable Aroo Moodley together with another police member, Kandasamy walking along a Smith street in the Durban CBD in drab / khaki uniform from Court situated in Smith Street in the day. (The colour of the uniform for Non-White members of the South African Police changed from black to khaki (drab) between April 1956 to April 1958. – [LG])
He joined the South African Police on 1953-10-26 at SA Police, Bellair, Durban and served there until he was called up to undergo basic Police Training at The South African Police, Non-European (Black & Indian) Training Depot (College), Wentworth, Durban in 1954. The duration of the course was 3 months. It was a Refresher’s Course.
Moodley was posted back to SA Police, Bellair as a uniformed police constable. Whilst at Bellair he was nominated for a detective course and served under the command of Branch Commander, Warrant Officer Bell Burger and his deputy was Johnny Eyesle. Burger later took charge of the Detectives at SA Police, Chatsworth, Unit 2 from 1st September 1965.
Moodley was posted to SA Police, Chatsworth, Unit 2 Detective Branch during 1967 approximately 2 years after it was officially opened by the Divisional Commissioner of Port Natal, Colonel CC von Keyerslinck.
Warrant Officer “Sterk” Gert Smit was the first appointed Station Commander. He was later succeeded by Warrant Officer Dicks whose understudy was Chief Sergeant Subramonia Pillai.
South African Police,
CID, Unit 02 Chatsworth
1968
Front row, seated, L-R, D/Sergeant SJ Morgan; D/Special Grade Chief Sergeant VR Moodley; D/Sergeant K Govender.
Rear standing, L-R, D/Constable M Pillay; D/Constable A Moodley (A Moodley is presently still alive at 96 years old, residing in Sydney, Australia. I recently had the pleasure and privilege of meeting with him personally in Durbanl – [LG]).); D/Constable P Arumugam. D/Constable Chitaanand, (Major General Hans Jissok. He was later appointed the Branch Commander, CID at Unit 5 and served as the Area Commissioner in Durban. -[LG])
Colonel Laas, Brigadier (District Commandant, Durban West District. – Captain DME Lazarus – [DMEL]) is seen awarding Warrant Officer A Moodley his medal for 20 years Faithful Service and Exemplary Conduct at a Medal Parade held at SA Police, Chatsworth, Unit 05 during 1984
Photograph taken at SA Police, Chatsworth during 1984. From left to right, Late, Captain (Sharma) DS Maharaj, Lieutenant General, (First Provincial Commissioner of Indian descent Gauteng Province. – [LG]); Warrant Officer A Moodley; Late Colonel Morgan Chetty, Lieutenant General, (First Deputy National Commissioner of the South African Police Services of Indian descent. – [LG])
South African Police
Detective Branch, Chatsworth
1984
Members Identified: –
Front row – from Left to Right, 3rd from left, Ramasami (Bob) Naidoo, 4th from left, Captain; Hans
Jissok, (Branch Commander), Major General; 6th from left, A Moodley, Warrant Officer.
The following medals awarded to Warrant Officer Moodley,
bears testimony of his exemplary conduct in the performance of his
police functions.
- 1971-10-26 The South African Police Medal for Faithful Service (10 years), for Long Service and Exemplary Conduct;
- 1979 -05-01 The South African Police Star for Faithful service (20 years), for Faithful Service and Exemplary Conduct;
He retired on 1984-05-31 having completed almost 30years of meritorious service to the South African Police and its various communities
[LG] and Warrant Moodley during his visit earlier this year in Durban
“DWO Moodley, commonly known to colleagues as Aroo, was born on 25 May 1929 in Bellair, Durban, Kwa Zulu Natal (KZN). He served in the SAPS from 1953 until his retirement in 1984. In 1987 he immigrated with his immediate family to Sydney, Eastern Australia. He served at SAP Bellair in the uniform and in the CID and at the CID at SAP Chatsworth. During his career, as a policeman stationed at SAPS Bellair, he experienced the 1949 riots in Durban. He investigated many complex and intricate cases during his career as a detective, including a complex bus accident (Culpable Homicide) in the 1970’s, on the Higginson Highway, were many sustained injuries and some lost their lives. This seasoned detective with many years of experience in the investigation of crime made a valuable contribution to the people of South Africa as a distinguished member of the South African Police. He enriched many lives both professionally and personally as police officer and gentleman.” – Major General (Ret) Doraval Govender, DLitt et Phil, SOE, F.I.S (SA). Professor in Criminal Justice Studies University of South Africa
“W/O Moodley let me take this opportunity on behalf of the author to say this to you. The influence you have had on the members of the South African Police, your community, your family both in South Africa and Australia, these are the areas where your legacy was created, your rightful efforts and level of personal commitments to excellence, your involvement in helping others succeed is indeed, the stuff that legends are made off. “To whom much is given, much is required” President JF Kennedy is an ideal that resonates in me as a fellow specialised Detective that came a lifetime after the father of the C.I.D.’s. W/O. Moodley had a higher purpose to give meaning and substance to the work he did every day without fear or favour.” – Advocate Yolynn Denness LLB (UKZN); LLM (Criminal Justice; UKZN)
“agnoscere et honorare servientibus” –
“to acknowledge and honour those who served”
“Soli Deo Gloria” – “To God Alone Glory”
Logan Govender
