Nongqai Volume 17 N0 10C – Special Edition W/O T Govender

SPECIAL EDITION NONGQAI VOLUME 17 N0 10C

SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE

WARRANT OFFICER THANAPPA GOVENDER

BORDER VETERAN

Keywords

South African Police, Warrant Officer Thanappa Govender, Border Veteran and police service, Counter-insurgency training and border duty
Faithful service and police legacy

Abstract

Warrant Officer Thanappa Govender was born in Tongaat, KwaZulu-Natal, in 1945.
He joined the South African Police in 1969 and completed his basic training at Wentworth Training College.
He served on three border deployments and completed specialised counter-insurgency training at Maloeskop.
He later served at Greenwood Park and SAP Verulam before retiring in 1997 after nearly 28 years of service.
His dedication, medals and long service are remembered as an important part of his family and South African Police history.

Warrant Officer Thanappa Govender

(Researched, authored, edited and prepared for publication by Logan Govender – [LG]. Based on information provided by his son, Warrant Officer DT Govender)

Logan Govender

“The Nation which forgets its defenders will itself be forgotten” – Calvin Coolidge

INTRODUCTION

Warrant Officer Thanappa Govender was born on 04 November 1945 in the small town of Tongaat, KwaZulu-Natal. He grew up in a time when life was very different from today, and from an early age he developed a strong sense of responsibility and commitment.

MARRIAGE

He married Kamala on 1969-10-30.

Warrant Officer T Govender and his dear wife Kamala

ENLISTMENT INTO THE SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE

On 1969-09-18, he joined the South African Police.

He underwent basic police training from November 1969 as part of Platoon 13.

SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE

WENTWORTH TRAINING COLLEGE

PLATOON 13

November 1969 – April 1970

Member Identified

Third row, L-R, 1st T Govender

This marked the beginning of a long career dedicated to serving the police and the community.

After completing his basic police training, he was posted to Greenwood Park. This was one of the first important postings in his career and gave him the opportunity to gain valuable experience as a police officer and  he carried out his duties with dedication and was prepared to learn and take on new responsibilities as his career developed.

COUNTER INSURGENCY COURSE (COIN)

He attended a Counter Insurgency Course, commonly known as a COIN course, at Maloeskop in Groblersdal early 1974. The course provided police members with specialised training and prepared them for the difficult duties associated with border service. During 1974-08-13 till 1974-10-07 – he served in Rhodesian / Zimbabwe. During 1981-08-28 – 1981-11-27 he served at a RSA Border. His last stint was from 1982-05-28 till 1982-08-27.

Warrant Officer Govender became a border veteran and served three separate stints of border duty. Border duty was demanding and required police members to work in challenging conditions away from their normal stations and families. His willingness to serve in these circumstances showed his commitment to his duties and to the organisation he served. The experience he gained during his border service formed an important part of his police career and contributed to the knowledge and skills he developed over the years. He earned a South African Police Border Medal and two bars for his efforts.

South African Police Medal for Combatting Terrorism with two bars

SA POLICE, VERULAM

During the 1970s, after spending time at Greenwood Park, Warrant Officer Govender was transferred to the South African Police, Verulam on 1991-07-01.

After working at Verulam for some time, he was based at the mechanical garage. His mechanical training proved valuable in this position, allowing him to use his technical knowledge in support of the police service.

Working at the mechanical garage required responsibility, practical knowledge and attention to detail. Police vehicles and other equipment were an important part of the work carried out by the police, and keeping vehicles in good working order was essential. Warrant Officer Govender therefore played an important supporting role in ensuring that the vehicles and mechanical requirements of the station were properly attended to.

His years of service also allowed him to work alongside many fellow police members and to build relationships with colleagues and members of the community. For those who knew him during his years in the police, his service represents a significant part of his life. Joining the police in 1969 and continuing to serve for many years required

dedication, discipline and perseverance.

RETIREMENT

In 1997, after many years of service, Warrant Officer Govender retired from the South African Police Service. At the time of his retirement from the police, he held the rank of Warrant Officer and was serving at SAP Verulam.

His story is one of service, commitment and perseverance. From his birthplace in Tongaat to his years as a police officer, he followed a path that saw him take on different challenges and responsibilities. His service as a border veteran and his work at SAP Verulam remain important parts of his history.

Warrant Officer Thanappa Govender’s police career is a record of nearly 28 years of service. He joined the police in 1969 and remained in service until 1997-02-28. During those years, he contributed his skills and experience to the police service and carried out his duties in different areas of work. His specialised counter-insurgency training and border service all formed part of his journey as a police officer.

His service deserves to be remembered and acknowledged. The years he spent wearing the uniform represented a commitment to duty and service. Although his police career ended in 1997, the contribution he made during his years of service remains part of his personal history and legacy.

Warrant Officer Thanappa Govender will therefore be remembered not only for the rank he achieved, but also for the many years he dedicated to the South African Police.

MEDALS

• 1976-08-18 SA Police Medal for Combatting Terrorism;
• 1981-10-25 SA Police, Bar Combatting Terrorism;
• 1988-04-01 SA Police Seventy-Fifth Anniversary Commemorative;
• 1989-09-18 SA Police Star for Faithful Service, 20 years;
• 1979-09-18 SA Police Medal for Faithful Service, 10 years.

His son, Warrant Officer DT Govender

SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE SERVICE

TRAINING COLLEGE

CHATSWORTH

2004

Member Identified

Third row, L-R, 8th DT Govender

His Daughter Captain S Pillay

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I wish to recognise and thank the Editor in Chief of Nongqai, Brigadier Hennie Heymans for his tireless, often unseen efforts in helping with the creation and publication of this magazine.

An experienced and highly skilled officer with an exceptional memory. His father served in the South African Police, stationed at Mount Edgecombe during the 1940s and later at Durban Central, Somtseu Road, and Rossburgh. The Brigadier holds a Master’s degree in Strategy. In 1964, he was stationed at Wentworth alongside Lieutenant-Colonel (Ray) Mathura Munilall. He also served at King’s Rest (now Brighton Beach), later as Public Relations Officer at Head Office, District Commandant at Welkom in the Free State Province, in the Soweto Region, and at ISU Headquarters.

I thank the following : –

• Warrant Officer DT Govender, the son of Warrant Officer DT Govender for his kind assistance;
• ALL photographs except for those otherwise mentioned were provided by members of Warrant Officer Govender’s family;
• Last but not least my family, for their patience, encouragement, and understanding throughout the journey of researching, compiling and refining this tribute.

“Each day, millions of police officers do the selfless work of putting their lives on the line to protect civilians, frequently responding to or preventing crises completely with no recognition.” – Letitia James

“agnoscere et honorare servientibus” –

“to acknowledge and honour those who served”

“Soli Deo Gloria” – “To God Alone Glory”

Logan Govender