The Department of Security Services recently held a function to honour its staff with awards for outstanding service rendered to the University of Pretoria.

The Department ensures that all University events are safe and secure and that any emergencies are dealt with efficiently. All campus crime and other illegal activities are investigated and reported to the Department, which works closely with the SAPS.

At the function, awards were given in the following categories: Protector of the Year, Friend of the Year, and Protector of the Month. Twenty-eight staff members received Protector of the Month awards.

Elmarie de Beer (Manager: Human Resources, Finance and Electronic Security Systems), Rowan Watson (Manager: Investigations) and Johan Boonzaaier (Manager: Security Operations) received awards for Exceptional Service Delivery in 2015.

The award for Protector of the Year went to Chris Colyn, Operational Manager: Department of Security Services (who also won Protector of the Month for December 2014, January 2015 and September 2015). The Department of Security Service’s Friend of the Year award went to the Maintenance Division of the Department of Facilities Management. The award was received by Mr Ludolf van der Merwe, Deputy Director: Maintenance and Operations, and Mr Wessel Oosthuizen, Deputy Director: Campus Services.

Mr Colin Fouché, Director of the Department of Security Services, noted the good relationships that the Department maintains with its various stakeholders. He thanked all staff for their diligence, loyalty, discipline and hard work over the year, which had presented numerous challenges. He concluded by saying: ‘All in all, I think it has been a balanced year and one that positions us well for the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead in 2016.’