Police golf day raises funds

The children of officers killed on duty benefited from the metro police’s Chief's Charity Golf Day, along with two NGOs.
TWO non-governmental organisations were the winners at the JMPD 2nd Annual Chief's Charity Golf Day, each receiving donations made on the day.

JMPD chief Chris Ngcobo tees offJMPD chief Chris Ngcobo tees offThe NGOs, Thari ya Basadi and the Joburg Society for the Blind, were chosen as the beneficiaries this year by metro police chief Chris Ngcobo. They each received R20 000. The golf day was held at Glenvista Country Club on 4 May.

Ngcobo himself played on the day, which was held to raise money for the orphans of metro police officers killed in the line of duty, and the other charities. Since 2001, 28 officers have been killed while on duty.

On the day, R120 000 was raised, half of it donated by a benevolent medical doctor, Cop Matseke. Sponsors on board to support the initiative included Clinix, Graffiti, 3M, MAG, AMH, Supa Quick, SAB and Syntell.

The day started early, with players taking to the green dressed for the part. Among them were Mogale City’s public safety manager, William Nchefu, Andrew Mlangeni, Thabo Masebe and Ekurhuleni’s metro police chief, Hlula Msimang.

Charity
Perfect weather added to the atmosphere, with blue skies and a temperature of 26°C. Play continued until sunset, but at the end of the day it wasn’t about who won on the green, but about those who would benefit from the initiative.

At the evening celebration after the golf, Ngcobo said the department really appreciated the support that everyone showed. He thanked participants for giving the game their all.

The charity golf day was the idea of Amanda Lekoane, the metro police’s marketing and events organiser, who approached him a few years ago with the proposal. “When she [Amanda] presented the idea I was a bit hesitant and made up excuses. However, for three years she persisted,” Ngcobo recalled.

This was the second time the day had been held, and Ngcobo was looking forward to it taking place every year.

Several sponsorsSeveral sponsors chipped in to make the golf day a successJoburg’s portfolio head of public safety, Matshidiso Mfikoe, commended the police department for being so thoughtful to the less fortunate. She assured guests that as long as she was with the department, the golf day would be held every year. “As long as I am still [member of the mayoral committee] here we will continue with the golf day and reach out to more people who are less fortunate.”

Poverty
The department was contributing to the lives of some people who lived in poverty to ensure they had a meal and something that they could call their own, she added. This was an occasion where the metro police showed communities that they were human and did not just arrest people.

She thanked the sponsors, commending them for being part of the programme that made other people’s lives better.

Johannesburg Child Welfare was the chosen NGO last year. This year more NGOs were identified as beneficiaries. “We have decided to have three beneficiaries because we want more people to benefit,” said the metro police spokesperson, Wayne Minnaar.

Elsie Dingalibala, from Thari ya Basadi in Lenasia, said the organisation worked with people who suffered from a variety of diseases, such as HIV, Aids, tuberculosis and high blood pressure. “We help these people by taking care of them and ensuring that they drink their treatment properly.”

An overjoyed Dingalibala said the money would be used to help orphans in homes where there was no income at all. It would also help some of them get identity documents.