Stalwart Manenberg cops put community first

MANENBERG policing stalwarts, Captain Ian Stuart Bennett and Brigadier Jayce Naidoo, are fighting the good fight with spirituality and faith. 

The long-serving pair were honoured at the Western Cape Provincial Prestige Awards, held at a SAPS auspicious event on Saturday, 17 January 2026. 

Together, the pair have been holding the line against the ever-escalating gang violence in the community.

But for Captain Bennett, policing has never been confined to a uniform, a rank, or a crime statistics; it has been a lifelong calling, one rooted in faith, service, and an unshakable belief that communities deserve transparency, dignity and hope.

A cop since 1986, Bennett said: “I stand here today knowing that policing became a ministry.

His role transcended administration, becoming a bridge between SAPS, community organisations and faith-based partners. 

He explained: “This reciprocal relationship, built on trust and shared goals, is vital for effective crime prevention and community safety. 

“A united front is the most effective defence against crime.”

In 2021, Bennett’s life took a dramatic turn when he became an amputee. Yet he continues to serve actively in SAPS. 

He added: “I look at my 40 years of service and I stand in awe. God ordained my career with purpose and that purpose is to be of service.”

Standing alongside Bennett at the awards was Brigadier Naidoo, the Station Commander of Manenberg SAPS, a leader whose presence has ignited what many now describe as a movement.

On Saturday, 24 January 2026, Brigadier Naidoo was awarded the Western Cape City of Cape Town Community Police Forum Award for Best Law Enforcement Officer in Management, recognising his transformative leadership in one of the country’s most challenged precincts.

What truly sets Brigadier Naidoo apart is his heart for the community.

In July 2025, a SAPS career exhibition revealed a devastating truth: not a single child from the Manenberg policing precinct qualified for SAPS recruitment or university entry. 

Further investigation uncovered an even deeper crisis - no high school in the precinct offered Mathematics or Science.

Within three months, a directive was issued mandating the introduction of Mathematics and Science in all high schools within the Manenberg policing precinct - a move widely described as a game changer.

As Brigadier Naidoo says: “It is not a dream. It is a plan in motion.”