Ministers Awards #SAPS National #Excellence Awards Nongoma Team: Special Task …

Ministers Awards
#SAPS National #Excellence Awards

Nongoma Team: Special Task Force: Durban: Division Operational Response Services
Lt Colonel H Niedinger and Team

On 1 February 2019 Lieutenant Colonel H Niedinger and Team of the STF: Durban responded to a telephonic request
from the Crime Intelligence Unit: Durban with regard to a planned cash-in-transit heist by suspects, who were involved in previous cash-in-transit operation(s) and the murder of police members, in the Vryheid/Nongoma area.

The members were tasked to assist Crime Intelligence with following up information and it was during this operation in
Nongoma: KwaZulu-Natal that the members came under attack by more than 20 brazen armed suspects. The members
were busy exchanging fire with the suspects at the one scene when they realised that the Cash Van was attacked. They
divided into 2 teams and one of the teams proceeded to the scene where the Cash Van was under attack.On the first
scene the members had an option to withdraw since they were outnumbered by the criminals and one SAPS member
was already fatally wounded, but they opted to continue with the fight.

The members on both scenes kept on returning fire and seven armed suspects were eventually fatally wounded, two
armed suspects were injured and arrested. The members managed to secure the area despite being outnumbered.
Unfortunately, one member of the Special Task Force and one member from Crime Intelligence was fatally wounded and
one member from Crime Intelligence sustained a gunshot wound. The members displayed extreme bravery and discipline during the attack that took place. Each member proved to be an asset to the SAPS and Division: Operational Response Services.

Several members of the public (victims) and SAPS members’ lives have been saved due to the team’s actions during the
operation. The image of the country was upheld since the incident was closely monitored by the local media.
As a result of their courageous, effective and efficient professionalism criminals were removed from society and a serious and violent crime was prevented.

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