With 37 years in the police service, Col Andre Van Wyk says being a police officer has always been a calling and not a job.
The colonel officially took over the position of station commander at Grassy Park Police Station, months after the retirement of former station commander Col Dawood Laing in December last year. “I’ve been around the block,” says Van Wyk of his extensive experience on the job.
“In 1987 I started my career at Elsies River Police Station.”
Originally from the Northern Cape, Van Wyk moved with his family to Gauteng only to later move to Cape Town at the age of 10. “I consider myself a Capetonian,” he says.
READ: Dramatic shift in crime in Grassy Park precinct
Describing his pull towards justice and enforcing the law, Van Wyk says it is something that he has always been drawn to, which is why he joined the South African Police Services (Saps).
“I think you will always hear about certain occupations where people say it is a calling rather than a job and I’ve always had the inclination to righteousness and that inspired me to take this direction in my career.”
Before being transferred to Grassy Park, the colonel was Head of Visible Policing (Vispol) at Delft Police Station, where he spent 22 years.
Contact crimes
Chatting about his new position, the colonel said he aims to focus on reducing contact crimes.
“I think in general, not only in the Grassy Park policing precinct which is one of the top 10 gang area stations, it is important to address contact crime as a priority,” he says.
“There is an outcry across the Western Cape to reduce violent crime and not only shootings, murders and attempted murders but also high levels of assault, which is why it would be appropriate for that to be my first port of call to prevent those contact crimes.”
Other areas he plans to prioritise in the coming months include “crime generators” such as drugs and alcohol.
“Crime, gangsterism, the drug trade, firearms and to a certain extent alcohol also needs to be looked at,” he said.
“Last week, we had a meeting with the Community Policing Forum (CPF) as well as the broader community who raised concerns.”
Commenting on the concerns, which include alleged attacks on police vehicles, Van Wyk said the issue has to be addressed. “I heard there was an incident where police property was damaged and the only way to address that is with the community,” he says
“If there are perpetrators fighting with police or damaging property, the law must take its course.”
