Members of the South African Police in the Eastern Cape have taken top honours at the 6th National Excellence Awards held in Mpumalanga.
Sergeant Adriaan Oosthuizen from the K9-unit in Humewood, Port Elizabeth won the Visible Police award for employee of the year, together with his dog Max.
He told Algoa FM News how it was a lifelong dream to join the K9 unit, which he eventually did in 2016.
Oosthuizen says the 3-year-old Max has been his partner for two years and the two of them recently successfully apprehended several hijackers.
Max is also very well trained in tracking suspects and completed his training in explosives in December.
Oosthuizen says whenever they have a successful day at the 'office' there will always be a treat at home.
Max, who lives with Oosthuizen, prefers a steak that is not too well done.
The Eastern Cape also won the overall award for the Administration Employee and Team of the year, the Visible police team of the year and the Crime Intelligence team of the year.
