2020 President's Award Winner 2 - Captain (Ret’d) Kobi Neethling

The second recipient of the President’s Award 2020 is Captain Kobi Neethling of the South African Police Service, a 35-year vehicle crime detective veteran. He is also an IAATI member since 1990. He started his police career in 1978 and was transferred to the Vehicle Crime Investigation Unit in 1985. He served in that capacity until retiring as a Detective Captain at the end of April 2020.

He is a true expert in the field of vehicle crime prevention, detection and investigation and is well known in South Africa.

His dedication to IAATI and his contribution to the fight against vehicle crime is undisputed. This includes:

• Overseeing the Vehicle Identification and Safeguarding Sections (VISS) to ensure that the policies and standards are adhered to;
• Investigating complaints against police in relation to vehicle crime matters;
• Identifying shortcomings pertaining to all aspects relating to vehicle crime;
• Researching these shortcomings and writing policies and procedures to address the shortcomings;
• Representing the South African Police Service on committees that write standards for approval and implementation by the South African Bureau of Standards with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Business Against Crime and all other interested parties, pertaining to vehicle related matters;
• Representing the South African Police Service on the Technical Committee that deals with problems relating to the National Road Traffic Act;
• Evaluating equipment for SAPS for use in the fight against vehicle crime;
• Training of SAPS members, private sector, and other law enforcement agencies (nationally and internationally) on vehicle identification, crime scenes and investigative techniques.

Two major cases where he was one of the key investigators are:

• 2005 – 2009 - Actively assisted in the arrest, investigation and conviction of Ananias Mathe, after his escape from the Johannesburg High Security Cells and his escape from C-MAX Prison in Pretoria. Mathe was convicted on 64 counts of house robbery, attempted murder, rape etc.
• April 2009 - Actively assisted in the search and arrest of a suspect who murdered two policemen from Johannesburg Vehicle Crime Investigation Unit.

He is also the recipient of numerous medals and commendations.

Capt Kobi was also instrumental in the building of the IAATI SAB, recruiting members, training, assisting with seminars, planning and executing multi-disciplinary operations with law enforcement and IAATI private sector investigators working hand-in-hand, etc. He was liked and respected by his fellow officers. As a police officer, IAATI member and friend, his honesty, integrity and willingness to always assist is an inspiration to all.

Congratulations, Capt. Kobi on a job well done!