Mitchells Plain’s Brigadier Cass Goolam, fondly known as the community’s commander, sums up his feelings over his retirement as bitter-sweet.
Goolam on Friday celebrated his 60th birthday and exited Mitchells Plain police station after being at the helm for a decade.
He spoke to the “Weekend Argus” about his 10-year tenure at one of the province’s busiest police stations and a career which spans more than 40 years.
He also credited his friend and colleague Major-General Jeremy Vearey for being his mentor.
“I learnt so much from Vearey. Everything I did was centred around what he taught me. He spoke, and I visualised.
“It was all about keeping it old school, working with the community, becoming one with them. They are the people with the knowledge about gang violence on the Cape Flats, that is one thing I took from Vearey that worked miracles for me.”
Goolam recalled the first time he stepped into his position as Mitchells Plain station commander.
“When you are in Mitchells Plain you immediately learn that it’s all about the community.
“You can’t come into this community with conventional thinking. People want to know that you are always available, that you are just a phone call away, and for me, it was a pleasure working with you all.
“But now I also have my family to think about, they have sacrificed so much time for me, for us.”
Goolam, a health junkie who has completed a number of marathons, on Wednesday took a lap around Mitchells Plain to bid farewell to the very people he served.
“I cannot explain how that touched my heart, to see so many people come out to just wave and say thank you. I think that was part of the realisation that hasn’t yet sunk in for me nor the community, because we still saw each other.
“Maybe Monday I will feel it more, maybe it will become more real than when I won’t be heading to the station like always.”
Goolam is credited for his stellar work with regard to the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA). He began his own POCA team comprising three junior detectives.
The team tracked crime trends, found a common modus operandi in gang activity, and used intelligence combined with intricate detective work to solve and prevent crime.
Last month the team’s work paid off when Abdur-Rahiem Israel was charged under the act and found guilty on all 11 charges, including murder, attempted murder and armed robbery.
Israel was sentenced to two life imprisonment terms and 78 additional years.
Goolam said this should be a warning that Mitchells Plain, even without him, is heading in the right direction.
“We are not going to reverse, I know this will be a better place, the map was laid out and the plan is already in execution.”
Goolam has seen the dark side of humanity and some cases have left him stone cold.
He recalled the gruesome scene during the Richmond Killings in KwaZulu-Natal in the mid-’90s.
“I will never forget the Richmond massacre, where 11 people died, predominantly women. We couldn’t attend to the scene immediately because it was dark, so wait for the sun to come up. There was still a baby, a 2-year-old sucking on her deceased mother. That’s a scene I will never forget.”
Goolam also spoke about the 2017 gun scandal, where 15 firearms disappeared from the police station. Initially, he was blamed but was exonerated two years later.
“When you serve for so long, you learn that there will always be a lot of criticism against the police, so what I did is I stayed in my lane, I asked people to pray, and that’s what they did.
“It also came out in my trial that I was framed, but I can’t speak too much about it. The misconception about camps in the Western Cape is also nothing but a misconception. I was never part of a camp, I am part of the police force.”
However, Goolam has put all that behind him and chose to focus on the positives.
Goolam had a special message for the community he has grown to love.
“You have to remember to always stand together. Stop bickering, this creates gaps for the gangsters. Talk things through, and unite. No gang, no army, and no police can beat a united community.
“Also denial, you have to come out of it. Learn to accept, don’t cover up, you have the potential to make this community even more beautiful.”
To his successor, Goolam said to always remain in gear and move forward with the community.
“Never reverse… always move forward, take the turns knowing that the community will always have your back as long as you have theirs.”
Crime-fighter Veronique “Benji” Williams said she was saddened that Goolam was retiring.
“He was a role model and an exceptional leader. When I became a reservist I worked under Brigadier Goolam.
“He made me a good cop, a good policewoman. It’s heartbreaking, it feels like something is being ripped away from you.”
Williams said Goolam left a legacy behind.
“I am sure that just like me, he also trained many other people, and that skill is something we will never forget, he shaped us as employees and shaped us as a community.
“Mitchells Plain is losing one of the good ones.”
Jasmina Harris, who spearheaded the Mitchells Plain Community Policing Forum in 1994 with Vearey, said she was sad about Goolam’s departure.
“I gave birth to the CPF, so that means I have worked with policemen for almost three decades, and I can confidently say that Goolam was truly one of the best.
“He played a very big role in keeping our community together and fighting crime. It was an honour working with him and I hope that the next person also has the same open-door policy as him.
“To Goolam, from the people of Mitchells Plain and everywhere he served, we salute you.”
Goolam plans on shifting his focus to writing during his retirement and will also become a businessman.
SAPS management thanked Goolam for his selfless service and his family their support, said police spokesman Colonel Andre Traut.