Westmead and Mahogany Ridge business owners joined hands to demonstrate their appreciation to a Blue Security armed response officer who was shot in the line of duty while on patrol in the area recently.
Blue Security operations director Brian Jackson said the officer and the company’s management were touched by the generosity of the businessmen who had raised R7 000 towards a gift voucher for the officer, Patrick Mofokeng, and his family.
The officer, who was involved in a shootout with armed robbers, was shot in the abdomen and a bullet grazed his head when he responded to an incident at a business premises in Hillclimb Road in the early hours of 19 June. “Our officer was admitted to hospital for medical treatment and is now at home recovering. We invited him to the office where he was surprised with the handover of the gift voucher. We are appreciative of the kind generosity of the business community toward our officer who is a dedicated member of our team,” Jackson said.
Companies that contributed towards the voucher included Mshiniwami, Compusafe, Hennox, Commercial Auto Compoments, Packmax, Ma Baker Xpress, Hytide Hydraulics, Argent, Lumen, Techclean, Dockleveller, Glue Devil, Winner Hydraulics and Scandlers Mech.
Ian Colls, managing director of Compusafe handed the voucher to Mofokeng, on behalf of the businessmen. He said when the news reached the community that Mofokeng had been shot, a businessman suggested via one of the local WhatsApp groups that members club together to show their appreciation.
“Within three hours we had raised thousands of rands. It’s a way for the community to say that we are sorry for what happened and a caring way of saying thank you for your support,” Colls said. Colls added that Blue Security had impressed the community with its swift armed response service, which had made a valuable contribution to enhancing business confidence in the area.
Mofokeng said he was making a good but slow recovery at home and he had been pleasantly surprised by the gesture. “I am very thankful and my family is also happy. I didn’t expect it,” Mofokeng said.
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