Ermelo
Knee prints: Ermelo
Arrest and conviction: Knee-print of suspect used to prove that he was the housebreaker
All Articles
996 articles
Afrikaans Literature in Uniform
Nongqai Skrywers en Boeke: Storiedagboek - Ds. Welly du Toit
Nongqai Skrywers & Boeke, Storiedagboeke, Ds. Wellt du Toit
Detection of Crime
Brigadier Balakrishnan Naidoo
This profile outlines the life and forty-year career of Brigadier Balakrishnan Naidoo in the South African Police (SAP) and later the South African Police Service (SAPS). His career began in 1970 and included active border deployments, Counter-Insurgency training, and service during politically challenging periods in South Africa’s history. He was awarded the South African Police Medal for Combating of Terrorism, with additional bars for extended operational service. Brigadier Naidoo became one of the early Indian commissioned officers in the SAP and built a distinguished career in forensic policing, particularly in fingerprint identification and criminal record management. He worked extensively within the Local Fingerprint Office and Criminal Record Centre, mastering complex manual systems before the introduction of modern automated technology. He later served in leadership positions and frequently testified in court as an expert witness. Throughout his career, he demonstrated discipline, resilience, and strong leadership under demanding conditions, including attending major crime scenes such as the 1985 Amanzimtoti bombing. After retiring in 2010, he remained committed to service by organising police reunions and founding the Retired Police Officers Social Club in Durban. His legacy reflects dedication to duty, professional excellence, and continued commitment to community and former colleagues.
Military writers & authors
Hoe word 'n Kommandant weer 'n Skutter?
Herman Toerien, Nongqai Rubriek/Column February 2026
Africa Sub-State Fault Lines
Start of the Angola-South Africa Bush War: 1966-1989. Wolfgang Witschas
Sixty years since the start of the Angolan Bush War in Southern Africa: 1966-2026
Contemporary Police History / Eietydse Polisiegeskiedenis
Lt-Col Ray Munilall Mathura
Lieutenant-Colonel Ray Munilall Mathura (1937-1993) was a groundbreaking Indian South African police officer. He served with great dedication during the apartheid era, a time when strict racial rules limited opportunities for non-white members. Born in 1937, he joined the South African Police on 19th April 1960 and served for more than 30 years. Despite strong racial discrimination, he rose through the ranks. During 1975, he was commissioned. Mathura’s career showed determination and courage in the face of hardship. He inspired others to serve their communities with pride, discipline, and integrity. Although he passed on 25th April 1993, his achievements are still honoured today. Police history records, including the Nongqai archives and he is also featured in the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Gandhi-Luthuli Documentation Centre’s website gallery entitled, South African Police Indian Veteran. The centre serves as both a living archive and a tribute to the Indian community’s legacy in South Africa and recognise him as one of the great legends of the South African Police.
1972 Women Police
Afsterwe - Sarie van Niekerk
Afsterwe - Sarie van Niekerk in lewe vroue-redakteur van die Nongqai, voormalige joernalis en lid van die vroue-polisie