National Police Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola, has welcomed 13 Special Task Force (STF) members into the ranks of the organisation's elite tactical unit.
The STF unit deals with high-risk operations that fall beyond the scope of general policing, which requires specialised skills.
Speaking at the Special Task Force Badge Parade held at the South African Police Service (SAPS) Tshwane Academy in Pretoria on Friday, Masemola said the Special Task Force was a strategic national asset.
“For 18 months, these members have endured one of the most rigorous and uncompromising training programmes within our law enforcement environment,” he said, adding that out of the many people who began this journey, only a few were successful.
He told the new members that they were not members of the Special Task Force by chance.
“You earned your place through grit, discipline and sacrifice. You were tested physically, mentally and emotionally. You were pushed beyond exhaustion, beyond doubt and beyond fear. The purpose was never to break you, it was to refine you.
“The Wings and Badges you will wear are not decorations. They are a covenant. A covenant to protect life. A covenant to defend the sovereignty of our Republic. A covenant to stand firm where danger is greatest.
“As members of this elite capability, you will be deployed in situations where seconds determine outcomes, where precision saves lives, and where failure is not an option. You will confront organised crime syndicates, hostage situations, armed suspects, and high-risk operations that demand absolute professionalism,” he said.
Masemola told the members that the nation will rely on their training, their discipline and their judgement.
“But remember this, tactical excellence without ethical grounding is dangerous. Your power must always be guided by restraint. Your authority must always be anchored in accountability. You are not above the law but you are its guardians.
“The Special Task Force embodies the highest ideals of the SAPS: courage, integrity, service and respect for human dignity. Your conduct, both on and off duty, must reflect these values. The badge on your chest carries the reputation of this entire Service,” he said.
To the instructors, Masemola said they carry a profound responsibility.
“You shape those who will stand between chaos and order. Through uncompromising standards, you shape those who will stand between chaos and order. Through uncompromising standards, you ensure that only the most capable earn the honour of this unit.
“Your leadership ensures that this elite capability remains sharp, disciplined and mission ready. standards, you ensure that only the most capable earn the honor of this unit. Your leadership ensures that this elite capability remains sharp, disciplined and mission ready,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za
