After 39 years in the South African police force, Manenberg vispol head Colonel Sedrick Hermanus, 59, retires.

Colonel Hermanus started his career in the police force at 19-years-old when he landed a position at Bishop Lavis Special Guards Unit in June 1985.

Five years later he was promoted to warrant officer and transferred to Mitchell’s Plain police station until 1995 . The following year he was transferred to Bellville South police station and two years later to Wynberg police station. In 1993 he became a lieutenant officer and in 1996 a captain. In 2007 he became a lieutenant colonel and was transferred to Delft police station. From 2011 until 2015 he worked as the Delft police cluster’s vispol coordinator, and in 2021 he became the vispol head at Manenberg police station.

Colonel Hermanus said that what kept him in the police force for 39 years was his passion for helping the community fight crime, and creating a safer society for everyone. He said that when he decided to join the police force, his father wasn’t happy because he wanted to him to study further but he wanted to start working.

Colonel Hermanus from Mandalay, said that seeing children drop out of school to join gangs and abuse drugs and seeing their parents suffering is what kept him motivated to keep fighting crime no matter how the tough the job got. His biggest challenge was keeping the community safe and mobilising residents to fight against gangsterism and drugs.

“Internally my biggest challenge was getting the members to do their service with a smile and keeping peace at the station as well as for the members to do their job with pride. My biggest highlight was becoming an officer seven days after I started,” he said.

Colonel Hermanus said that what he will miss the most is the joy of serving the community, being there for them, and guiding young officers through their career.

“My message to the neighbourhood watches is that without them police can’t do their jobs, what they do is very important. To the community, never lose hope and keep fighting crime. To the CPF thank you for your hard work, and to the officers thank you, and continue serving you community with pride- they always come first.”

Manenberg SAPS spokesman Captain Ian Bennett said that Colonel Hermanus was the “gentle giant of Manenberg crime fighting” and now has his sight set on embracing the world outside of the police force, and can now reap the fruits of a job well done.

He said that Colonel Hermanus stands tall as he bows out of SAPS and away from crime fighting with unconditional service and passion to his community. With policing in his blood and 39 years of loyal and dedicated service he enters a new part of life.

“Crime fighting ends, but a new journey in his life only begins. Looking back on his illustrious career, this gentle giant ensured that his community was always put first. It was and is a memorable career and he has had a fulfilling experience and a front row seat to life. It was surely a honour and a privilege for him to have served the community of Cape Town and the nation of South African through seven administrations and thirty years of democracy. Well done my good and faithful servant of SAPS. May your next part of your life's journey always be rewarding,” he said.

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Colonel Hermanus retires after 39 years of service