SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE: FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS TO A SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE CAPTAIN: (DERRICK) SAGATHEVAN MOODLEY
Lieutenant-Colonel (Advocate) Jayshree Govender
“The Policeman mustbe a minister, a social worker, a diplomat,a tough guy and a gentleman. And, of course, he’d have to be a genius …For he will have to feed a family on a policeman’s salary” - Paul Harvey
(Compiled by his daughter Lieutenant-Colonel (Advocate) Jayshree Govender [JG]. Edited, set out and forwarded for publication by Logan Govender - [LG])
At his graduation ceremony receiving the National Diploma in Policing from Technikon RSA in Durban during 1990.
“The Nation which forgets its defenders will itself be forgotten” – Calvin Coolidge
Lieutenant-Colonel (Advocate) Jayshree Govender
I am currently a Lieutenant-Colonel in the South African Police Services, stationed at the Provincial Head Office, KwaZulu-Natal, Legal Services.
Logan Govender (who I have never met) traced me via Facebook. He sent me a photo and asked me if I recognised any person in the photo. I did recognise my dad in the photo. Logan Govender then gave me an overview of his publication, Nongqai and his aim to record the history of the Indians who served in South African Police. Logan invited me to get involved.
I write this story about my dad, who was a former police officer.
When I think of my dad I am reminded of the quote. “The policeman must be a minister, a social worker, a diplomat, a tough guy, and a gentleman. And of course he’d have to be a genius… For he will have to feed a family on a policeman’s salary” by Paul Harvey. My dad was all of this. He was the person that family and neighbours came to for advice about everything. He was stern but still compassionate and motivating at the same time. He was a dedicated police officer, but he always provided and continues to provide support, security and unconditional love to his family.
My dad had a great reputation as a police officer and I had the privilege of being mentored by him and although I work hard, I will always live in his shadow.
My Dad, the retired Captain Sagathevan Moodley (Derrick), a member of the South African Police since 1966, and has served at SA Police, Umzinto, Sawoti, Chatsworth, Pinetown, and Westville. He retired in 1992, on early retirement, at the age of fifty.
I had the privilege of working with my dad at SA Police, Pinetown. It was inspiring to watch the level of respect and command my dad held at work. To this day I hear comments about my dad’s knowledge, experience and his mentoring. He was a warrant officer when I joined the SA POLICE. His co-workers addressed him as “Adjutant”. There were times that I would address him as such in jest.
It was a very proud moment when my dad was promoted to the rank of a Captain. I remember running into him at Pinetown SA POLICE for the first time wearing his Captain’s Rank. I saluted him, he acknowledged the salute and we both burst out laughing.
My dad’s devotion to his family, resilience, hard work and wisdom has always been an inspiration to my siblings and myself and he is fondly referred to as a “Legend” by my siblings.
“I write this in the third person to avoid perception of self-indulgence and to emphasise my dad’s story.” – [JG] This is his story.
FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS
Lieutenant-Colonel (Advocate) Jayshree Govender
Derrick Moodley is a third-generation descendant of Indian Indentured Labourers. Both sets of grandparents came to South Africa as Indentured Labourers. Although he cannot remember his maternal grandparents, he enjoyed a close relationship with his paternal grandfather.
Records indicate that his grandfather was Munisami Lutchmanna (documents do not indicate the surname) who arrived in South Africa in December 1896. Moodley has very fond memories of his grandfather, always providing good advice and shielding him from being disciplined for his naughtiness as a young boy. Moodley seems to emulate his grandfather’s character.
Moodley was born on the 1st of August 1942, in Umzinto, a small town in southern KwaZulu-Natal. He attended a temporary school situated at the Umzinto Temple. He remembers wearing a khaki uniform and with bare feet. He does remember owning a pair of school shoes handed down from elder siblings. When he outgrew the shoes, he cut off the front of the shoes so that his feet could fit into the shoes.
He excelled in school and recalls earning a double advancement to two gradeshigher. He completed standard six at the Chowtee School in Sawoti but unfortunately had to leave school to earn an income.
On leaving school, he worked at various places, which included a clothing factory, Blanket factory, at NCP and as a wine steward at the once famous Archibald’s Hotel in Umzinto.
Enlistment Into the South African Police
Moodley’s elder brother the late Manuel was instrumental in getting Moodley recruited into the SA Police. Manuel made some enquiries with a well-known police official, known as Dully Singh, and
enquired about enlisting in the force. Manuel then obtained an application form, which he then completed. He completed this form without even discussing it with his parents or siblings. He doubts that his parents would have supported the application as policing was regarded as a dangerous and risky career.
Moodley was enlisted into the SA Police on 9th of August 1966. He reported to SA Police, Umzinto. He started his career on the reliefs at the Charge Office in Umzinto. Joining the SA Police was an opportunity to escape from poverty and to improve the living conditions for himself and his family. During his in-service training, he learnt how to write out the various registers in the Charge Office. It was at this time, whilst visiting his cousins in Harringworth, in a small town outside of Umzinto, that he met his wife, Daisy Moodley.
Basic Police Training
Moodley went to the SA Police, Training College, Wentworth in 1967. His first memory of the police academy was an issue with his moustache. Although his hair was cut short, he did not remove his moustache. On arriving at the college, the trainers derided him for having a moustache. He was told that he must remove his moustache immediately because he was not yet a man. He was told that the training would make him into a man; he may only grow a moustache on condition that he completes his training.
In his experience working roof guard duties at the SA Police, Training College, Wentworth during the night was always a challenge. This meant that he had to walk on the roof along the edges. If you dozed off whilst walking, there was a risk of falling off the roof.
Training was physically and mentally gruelling, however quitting was never an option. He visited his future wife during monthly pass outs from the college and this was an incentive to persevere and complete the training.
His passing out parade was held at SA Police, Training College, grounds in Wentworth. His family were unable to travel and attend the parade. He proudly wore his khaki uniform that comprised of a safari suit, with short pants, long socks and a helmet. At the time uniforms had to be cleaned, neatly ironed and all buttons and badges had to be polished and shined with Brasso. Shoes had to be boned with “spittle and polish”. An on-duty inspection was held daily to ensure that members dressed in terms of these standards. It is unfortunate that these high standards are no longer maintained within the Service. – [JG])
Photograph 04
(Source Captain AM Adams)
South African Police Training College
Wentworth
Durban
Platoon 8 /1967
October 1966 to March 1967
Members Identified –
Third row, left to right, 3rd AM Adams, Captain; 5th Sivalingam, Lieutenant-Colonel; 10th Saravana, (SM Govender) late, Captain; 11th Sagathevan, Captain (Derrick)
Fourth row, left to right, 5th S Kurmnundh, (K Chutterpaul), Sergeant; 7th Mogambery, (Bob Govender), Captain; 8th Anandlal, (Krishan Anandlal) Detective Warrant Officer
Posting
Before and after basic police training Moodley was posted to SA Police, Umzinto. In 1967 he was transferred to SA Police, Sawoti, in the South of KwaZulu Natal.
On 12 November 1968, he married Daisy Moodley.
A more recent photograph of both Derrick and Daisy
Together they built their first mud house on the SA Police, Sawoti premises, and later erected a prefab building on the same premises.
Working in Sawoti allowed him to develop in all facets of policing. There was no separate Crime Investigation nor Visible Policing unit at the station. A police official was never limited to tasks within a specific job description but was expected to be able to perform all policing duties.
Moodley remembers working call duties at night in Sawoti. Members were officially allowed to sleep in the Charge Office, as a 24hour service could not be maintained due to a lack of sufficient manpower, and members were expected to respond timeously to a complaint as a first responder and to continue the investigation until the perpetrator was arrested. An OB entry titled “Sleeping duties” was made and he would sleep on a single mattress in the Charge Office.
Although the concept of community policing was unknown at the time, there was collaboration between the traditional police and the SA Police Services. If a suspect or witness was sought after by the SA Police, the assistance of the local Induna and the tribal police was sought. Moodley speaks fluent Zulu. This helped with communication in this rural area.
Gruesome Recollections
During his time in Sawoti, he remembers two serious cases very vividly, because of the gruesome nature of it as well as the successful investigation and subsequent convictions of the perpetrators.
The first case was the rape of a young mother, whilst she was carrying her infant child on her back. The child was killed during the incident. Whilst at the scene, Moodley scanned the crowd that was forming at the scene behind the barricade. The suspect was amongst the crowd and suddenly started running away from the scene. The suspect managed to escape at the time, however with the help of the community he was eventually traced and convicted for the rape and murder.
The second incident was a very horrific culpable homicide scene as a result the foolishness of two drivers. A truck, carrying a load of timber had mechanical problems. The second truck stopped to assist. A decision was taken by both the drivers that one truck will push the other truck whilst the victim held a log between the two trucks. The log slipped and the person holding the log was crushed to death between the two trucks. Both the drivers were convicted of culpable homicide.
SA Police, Mechanical School, Benoni
(According to the information at my disposal Moodley was nominated to attend SA Police, Mechanical School probably during 1969 and successfully completed on 1970-02-06. I presume therefore that this photograph was taken at that relevant course. In those years the
duration of the course was 6 weeks considering it was advanced and Intensive. The course involved intensive tuition – theoretical and practical instruction in the driving, care, handling and maintenance of police vehicles and also to promote safety of both humans and protection of State-owned property. – [LG])
Photograph 07
South African Police
Mechanical School
Benoni
February 1970
Members Identified
Front row, seated, left to right,3rd Joseph Benjamin (Captain DME Lazarus), late (Major)
Rear row, standing, left to right, 1st Constable (Derrick) Sagathevan Moodley
Promotion
On 1st October 1971 he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and transferred to SA Police, Unit 2, Chatsworth.
He reported to Chatsworth with his wife, two children and their meagre belongings in the car. He expected to be allocated with state accommodation, but unfortunately, this was not the case. He worked under the command of Lieutenant Subramonia Pillai (the first appointed Indian Station Commander and thereafter the first Indian Commissioned Officer in the South African Police[LG])
Photograph 08
SA Police, unit 2 Chatsworth
Chief Sergeant Subramonia Pillai and Warrant Officer Gert (Sterk Gert) Smit discuss plans for the new Chatsworth Police Station - the first entirely Indian-Staffed station in South Africa. In the background a section of the temporary police station can be seen.
(Source, the Pillai family. The original black and white photograph was kindly colourised by Ms Jenny Bosch.)
(Source - The original black and white photograph was supplied by Brigadier (Natty) NG Govender and kindly colourised by Ms Jenny Bosch.)
He spent the entire night searching for a place to rent temporarily. He rented in a few places in Chatsworth until he bought his first home in Shallcross (a suburb outside Chatsworth), where he lived and raised his family until his retirement.
After a few years of working in Chatsworth, in 1975, he applied for a transfer to SA Police, Pinetown. In Pinetown, he was appointed as a field-training officer in the Pinetown District, which was quite an accomplishment for a “non-white” person in the SA Police during the apartheid era.
The South African Police Medal
He was awarded The South African Police Medal for Faithful service, 10 years for Faithful Service and Exemplary Conduct on 1979-05-01.
He only started working at Pinetown in the 1980’s. He remembers working under the command of Major Roelofse and Lieutenant Matthee.
became SA Police, Pinetown
(Source – Warrant Officer Johan Visagie)
Photograph 13
SA Police, Pinetown, old station. (Old Pinetown Police station and Rodney Torr, late. I was stationed there 1977 to 1980. – Willie Joubert)
(A number of group photographs are available of The Station Commander and Staff before Moodley’s arrival to the station which I post for historic and preservation purposes. – [LG])
KwaZulu-Natal
1963 – 1966
Member Identified
Third row, standing, 1st from left, R Naidoo
(This was presumably taken between August 1963 and July 1966 as during this period Naidoo was a Constable as depicted in this photograph. [Furthermore, only Sergeants are seated in the second row with the Officer1] - [LG])
(Source – Captain (Bob) R Naidoo)
South African Police
Station Commander & Staff
1
Pinetown
January 1965
(Courtesy – Warrant Officer Johan Visagie)
Member Identified
Third row, left to right, 4th J Visagie
16
South African Police
Pinetown
Station Commander and Staff
Durban
KwaZulu-Natal
February 1970
Second row, 3rd from left, Sergeant Naidoo
(Source – Captain (Bob) R Naidoo)
Moodley was promoted to the rank of Warrant officer on the 1st of April 1980 and appointed as a Branch Commander at Pinetown, situated in the west of eThekwini.
In 1988 he was transferred to Pinetown West SA Police as the Branch Commander of the Enquiry Staff. Pinetown West was a former Railway Police Station, situated at the Pinetown Taxi Rank. Pinetown West Station no longer exists.
In 1983, he underwent a training officer’s course in Paarl.
Photograph 18
South African Police
Training Officer’s Course
No 10/1983
30:08:1983 - 19:09:1983
Members Identified
Second row, from left to right, 1st Warrant Officer S Moodley, Captain
: 2nd K Govender: T Singh, late, Colonel: D Baitchu, late, Lieutenant; SM Govender, late, Captain.
Third row, 2nd D Bhawanideen, late, Lieutenant-Colonel; GV Govender, late; H Badul, Brigadier.
Photograph 20
Warrant Officer GV Govender
(Source family of Warrant Officer Govender)
Photograph 21
Brigadier Hari Badul
(Source Brigadier Hari Badul)
At Pinetown he worked under the command of Major Roelofse and a Major Smith and Lieutenant Matthee, and in Pinetown West he worked under the command of a Captain Swart. In 1986 the Railway Police and SA Police amalgamated into one service and because of Moodley’ s expansive experience and knowledge of internal policies he was nominated to conduct training to the ex-railway police officials in the Pinetown District.
The South African Police Medal
The South African Police Star for Faithful service, 20 years, for Faithful Service and Exemplary Conduct on 1986-08-09.
The South African Police Medal
He was awarded The South African Police Seventy Fifth Year Commemorative Medal 1988-04-01
Photograph 22
South African Police
Pinetown
Station Commander and Staff
Durban
KwaZulu-Natal
1989
Front row, seated, left to right, 1st Constable Adele Botha; 2nd unidentified; 3rd Warrant Officer Moodley (not my dad); 4th Lieutenant Scholtz; 5th Major Van Wyk, (Johannes Hendrik Van Wyk, Colonel, District Commandant Brighton Beach, Durban S0uth.- [LG]); 6th Lieutenant Marais; 7th Warrant Officer Krish Govender; Constable (f) Jay Moodley, (Lieutenant-Colonel [Advocate] Govender- [LG])
Second row, left to right, 1st Constables Baldwin; 2nd W Coetzer; 3rd Van Onselen; 4th James Duke; 5th Baldwin 6th Mnikathi; 7th Seelan Reddy; 8th Kevin Naidu; 9th unidentified; 10th Priscilla Kaloo (Now Naidu); 11th Maphela.
Rear row, left to right, 1st Constables Visagie; 2nd Dave Baker; 3rd Camphor; 4th Van Vuuren; 5th Hein Neveling; 6th Sergeant Wayne Smith; 7th Constables Danny Govender; 8th Selvan Naicker; 9th Sergeants Gangaram; 10th Reddy; 11th Constable Alec Moodley.
