Port Elizabeth : Too often we as human beings often underestimate the power of a kind deed, an honest compliment or the miniscule act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.

In March 2017, seven (7) SAPS employees were injured when the elevator at Mount Road station plummeted four floors. Since this incident, some have returned to work while others are still receiving treatment.

One of the injured, Shakeela Ashley, an admin clerk at the Local Criminal Record Centre had since had her leg amputated. She is still recuperating and has not been to work since the incident. The member is confined to a wheelchair. The SAPS Women’s Network and Men for Change engage in many projects attending to the plights and needs of the communities in despair. However, remembering that ‘Charity begins at Home,’ these members realised that in order to assist Ms Ashley to cope with this unfortunate circumstance, something must be done to ease her movements around her house. As a gesture of goodwill and showing that the SAPS family do care for their own, they have undertaken to construct a ramp which will be wheelchair friendly at her house so that she has easy access moving about.

The Head of Quality Management Division: Forensics Services, Major Gen Tilly Manamela accompanied by Brigadier Joe Smith and Colonel Joel Mampane from Head Office personally visited Ms Ashley at her house in Gelvandale yesterday, 03 October 2018 and offered their assistance to her. They also explained the reason for their visit was to build the ramp and encouraged her to be positive. The Cluster Commander for Mount Road, Maj Gen Thembisile Patekile was also present. The delegation also visited the homes of the other members that are also off sick since the incident.

Ms Ashley was very receptive to her visitors and appreciated the assistance offered.

Meeting an individual need more important than our own shows that we as human beings possess characters that are caring and compassionate.

Source: South African Police Service