“Be a fighter against crime and not crime fighting you.” This is the motto WO Petrus Smart has lived by for the past 31 years of his career.
Smart (52), who has been based at Kensington Police Station for the past 22 years, will be saluting the police force at the end of the month.
The father of four explains that he first started in the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) where he served for two years before he made a career shift by joining the police service in March 1991.
Smart explains that fighting crime was always his passion.
“I was born on a farm in Vredenburg. What I saw back in my community made me want to fight crime. I saw people stabbing each other and women and children abused. I told myself back then I want to make a change.”
Smart says he served his way up the ranks and started as an assistant constable. He became a constable and finally a warrant officer.
He previously served at police stations in Koeberg, Kuils River and Table Bay Harbour.
Smart says when he started in Kensington in 2000, he had to work hard to regain the trust of the community, something he says was lacking at the time.
“I had to build the trust of the community. It was low in Kensington at the time. I wanted to change this. With the help of the residents, we were able to make a change in the community.”
The officer says in his career he helped investigate various high-profile cases.
“I was part of the investigation team which investigated the Century City serial killer, as well as the case involving Zelda van Niekerk, the biker who was murdered. In 2021, there was a murder case at a garage in Kensington as well. I was also part of the team who arrested two suspects who were wanted for more than R1,5 million worth of gas cylinders.”
According to Smart, being a police officer often means going beyond the call of duty.
“I always try and go the extra mile. I am a people’s person and like to do work in the community. In 2013, I became the chair of the Police Rugby Club playing under Western Province. I decided to open the team up to the community as well.”
Smart says he had to learn the hard way that the job does not come without challenges.
“The difficult parts are when you go into communities and they say police are corrupt. Or when residents try to protect the perpetrator, those were the challenging parts.”
The officer says he is grateful to his wife Kierrima and four children who have supported him throughout his career. He describes his son Ricardo as his source of inspiration.
Smart says when he vacated his office on Tuesday 18 February his work in the community continued.
“I will now spend time with my family and just relax. I will continue working in the community. I will do the things I didn’t always have the time to do.”
Smart encourages his colleagues and aspirant police officers to continue the fight against crime.
“The next generation must take the baton. I believe that the things I did will be taken forward by the next generation. I will leave them on a high note so they must aim even higher. I will miss the people of Kensington, I encourage everyone to be a fighter against crime. I love them, even if they don’t love me. I love them.”
