Cape Town - Deputy Police Minister Makhotso Sotyu has celebrated National Police Day by saluting South Africa's men and women in blue for their courageous work in keeping South Africa safe.
She was joined in marking the day by Acting National Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, Western Cape Commissioner Arno Lamoer and provincial Community Safety MEC Dan Plato, among other officials.
Hundreds of excited officers, clad in their blue shirts, thronged Athlone Stadium outside Cape Town where the celebrations were meant to take place for most of the day.
Sotyu said that she was paying tribute to "heroes and heroines" for their hard work in ensuring that everyone in the country was safe.
She thanked the police for putting the lives of citizens first as they battle crime.
"Thank you very much for what you are doing for the nation," she said, stressing that policing should not just be a career but a "special calling".
She said people should not join the service only because they were jobless or wanted money.
Sotyu also thanked the police for their role in securing recent high profile events such as the COP17 climate change global talks in Durban, and the ANC centenary celebrations staged in Mangaung Municipality in the Free State.
Mkhwanazi, who was in high spirits, thanked the police for their hard work, saying they should celebrate their achievements and enjoy their day.
Plato said that being a member of the police service was an honour. He urged the police to keep doing their duties to ensure the nation remained safe.
Lamoer said the police were winning against crime, gangsterism and alcohol abuse, and that they would not allow the province to be defeated by criminals.
He expressed concern about violence against women and the role alcoholism played in that crime. He added that one of their top priorities was to uproot corruption.
The South African Police Union and the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union sent their messages of support for the celebrations.
