{"id":117859,"date":"2016-04-13T07:45:00","date_gmt":"2016-04-13T05:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/117859\/new-boss-for-new-cluster\/"},"modified":"2016-04-14T08:24:26","modified_gmt":"2016-04-14T06:24:26","slug":"new-boss-for-new-cluster","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/develop.citizen.co.za\/germiston-city-news\/news-headlines\/2016\/04\/13\/new-boss-for-new-cluster\/","title":{"rendered":"New boss for new cluster"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>He has a tough job to do, but with his wealth of experience and dedication Gen Max Masha is up for the challenge.<\/p>\n<p>Masha took up the position of cluster commander for the SAPS\u2019s Ekurhuleni West Cluster on April 1.<\/p><div class=\"stream-item stream-item-in-post stream-item-inline-post aligncenter\"><\/div>\n<p>The cluster combines the Germiston and Katlehong clusters and comprises 12 police stations.<\/p>\n<p>A special function, where heads of police stations and units came together at the Germiston Police Station, to welcome Masha, was held last Tuesday.<\/p><div class=\"stream-item stream-item-in-post stream-item-inline-post aligncenter\"><\/div>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"New Cluster Commander for Ekurhuleni West Cluster 1\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4qemuPrD6FQ?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Masha joins the Ekurhuleni West Cluster after a successful stint as cluster commander in Sebokeng (the Vaal area).<\/p>\n<p>He has been in the police force since 1984 and believes that, for the police to be more successful, they need the community.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe are serving the community and must find out what their needs are,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>The general, who originally hails from Limpopo, always wanted to be a policeman and has worked at many different police stations since joining the service.<\/p>\n<p>He is married to Emily (a pastor) and has two children, Dennis (28) and Trudy (24).<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOne thing they teach you when you become a police officer is that it is important to lead a balanced life and that you must maintain all aspects of your life, so I have always made time for my family,\u201d Masha said.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"New Cluster Commander for Ekurhuleni West Cluster 2\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/cLZOo5LO7Os?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>He has a clear vision for the newly formed Ekurhuleni West Cluster.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOur cluster must be the best performing cluster and I want the members to want to work.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe must work with the community and it is important that the community is proud of the police force they have,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>His plans for the cluster include increasing police visibility, especially in areas deemed to be hotspots.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe will hold operations and deal with the generators of crime,\u201d Masha said.<\/p>\n<p>He added that the police will also work closely with the EMPD in enforcing traffic laws, as people must start to have respect for the law and must realise that they cannot just do what they want.<\/p>\n<p>Another issue which is close to his heart is to increase and better the relationship the detectives have with the courts.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe all need to be on the same page and those who deserve to be behind bars must be there.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPeople must know that if they commit a crime they will be punished and this is a challenge I am prepared to take on,\u201d Masha warned.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen criminals are just allowed to walk free it frustrates both the police and the community.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPeople have enough challenges in their daily lives and, as police, we dare not fail them.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe community must be safe and feel safe.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"New Cluster Commander for Ekurhuleni West Cluster 3\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/6OVvTz60nNM?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Masha added that the issue of corruption in any form will also be dealt with.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI appeal to the community not to give bribes, but to rather report the officer concerned,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEven if you do give a bribe, you can report the matter anonymously \u2013 just take all the particulars, for example the registration number of the vehicle, the time the incident occurred and the officer\u2019s name.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The general also plans to make sure each station has a cellphone number which the community can use if they receive no help when they call the station.<\/p>\n<p>These cellphones will be manned by relief commanders and this is a way of holding people accountable.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe also want to improve our reaction time, as the call from the community member might be a matter of life and death,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe community must know that when they call, we will be there quickly.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Masha urged members of the community to get involved by joining their local CPFs and to not wait until crime hits them.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe closer the police and the community are, the less space there is for criminals to act in our midst,&#8221; he added.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf we remove the space between us, there will be no room for the criminals to play.\u201d<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-117859 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-thumbnail'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/develop.citizen.co.za\/germiston-city-news\/news-headlines\/2016\/04\/13\/new-boss-for-new-cluster\/attachment\/15gcngeneralclusmh_04239\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"270\" height=\"203\" src=\"https:\/\/dwu32cgxelq1c.cloudfront.net\/local_newspapers\/sites\/31\/2016\/04\/15GCNGENERALCLUSMH_04239-270x203.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-117860\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dwu32cgxelq1c.cloudfront.net\/local_newspapers\/sites\/31\/2016\/04\/15GCNGENERALCLUSMH_04239-270x203.jpg 270w, https:\/\/dwu32cgxelq1c.cloudfront.net\/local_newspapers\/sites\/31\/2016\/04\/15GCNGENERALCLUSMH_04239-520x390.jpg 520w, https:\/\/dwu32cgxelq1c.cloudfront.net\/local_newspapers\/sites\/31\/2016\/04\/15GCNGENERALCLUSMH_04239.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 270px) 100vw, 270px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-117860'>\n\t\t\t\tGen Max Masha has been appointed as the cluster commander for the SAPS\u2019s Ekurhuleni West Cluster. \n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/develop.citizen.co.za\/germiston-city-news\/news-headlines\/2016\/04\/13\/new-boss-for-new-cluster\/attachment\/img_4700-custom-2\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"270\" height=\"203\" src=\"https:\/\/dwu32cgxelq1c.cloudfront.net\/local_newspapers\/sites\/31\/2016\/04\/IMG_4700-Custom-270x203.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-118067\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-118067'>\n\t\t\t\tNew cluster commander welcomed.\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/develop.citizen.co.za\/germiston-city-news\/news-headlines\/2016\/04\/13\/new-boss-for-new-cluster\/attachment\/img_4701-custom-2\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"270\" height=\"203\" src=\"https:\/\/dwu32cgxelq1c.cloudfront.net\/local_newspapers\/sites\/31\/2016\/04\/IMG_4701-Custom-270x203.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-118068\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-118068'>\n\t\t\t\tNew cluster commander welcomed.\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/develop.citizen.co.za\/germiston-city-news\/news-headlines\/2016\/04\/13\/new-boss-for-new-cluster\/attachment\/img_4702-custom\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"270\" height=\"203\" src=\"https:\/\/dwu32cgxelq1c.cloudfront.net\/local_newspapers\/sites\/31\/2016\/04\/IMG_4702-Custom-270x203.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-118069\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-118069'>\n\t\t\t\tNew cluster commander welcomed.\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/develop.citizen.co.za\/germiston-city-news\/news-headlines\/2016\/04\/13\/new-boss-for-new-cluster\/attachment\/img_4703-custom-2\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"270\" height=\"203\" src=\"https:\/\/dwu32cgxelq1c.cloudfront.net\/local_newspapers\/sites\/31\/2016\/04\/IMG_4703-Custom-270x203.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-118070\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-118070'>\n\t\t\t\tNew cluster commander welcomed.\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/develop.citizen.co.za\/germiston-city-news\/news-headlines\/2016\/04\/13\/new-boss-for-new-cluster\/attachment\/img_4704-custom-2\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"270\" height=\"203\" src=\"https:\/\/dwu32cgxelq1c.cloudfront.net\/local_newspapers\/sites\/31\/2016\/04\/IMG_4704-Custom-270x203.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-118071\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-118071'>\n\t\t\t\tNew cluster commander welcomed.\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/develop.citizen.co.za\/germiston-city-news\/news-headlines\/2016\/04\/13\/new-boss-for-new-cluster\/attachment\/img_4708-custom\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"270\" height=\"203\" src=\"https:\/\/dwu32cgxelq1c.cloudfront.net\/local_newspapers\/sites\/31\/2016\/04\/IMG_4708-Custom-270x203.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-118072\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-118072'>\n\t\t\t\tNew cluster commander welcomed.\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/develop.citizen.co.za\/germiston-city-news\/news-headlines\/2016\/04\/13\/new-boss-for-new-cluster\/attachment\/img_4709-custom-2\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"270\" height=\"203\" src=\"https:\/\/dwu32cgxelq1c.cloudfront.net\/local_newspapers\/sites\/31\/2016\/04\/IMG_4709-Custom-270x203.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-118073\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-118073'>\n\t\t\t\tNew cluster commander welcomed.\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/develop.citizen.co.za\/germiston-city-news\/news-headlines\/2016\/04\/13\/new-boss-for-new-cluster\/attachment\/img_4710-custom-2\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"270\" height=\"203\" src=\"https:\/\/dwu32cgxelq1c.cloudfront.net\/local_newspapers\/sites\/31\/2016\/04\/IMG_4710-Custom-270x203.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-118074\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-118074'>\n\t\t\t\tNew cluster commander welcomed.\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/develop.citizen.co.za\/germiston-city-news\/news-headlines\/2016\/04\/13\/new-boss-for-new-cluster\/attachment\/img_4711-custom-2\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"270\" height=\"203\" src=\"https:\/\/dwu32cgxelq1c.cloudfront.net\/local_newspapers\/sites\/31\/2016\/04\/IMG_4711-Custom-270x203.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-118075\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-118075'>\n\t\t\t\tNew cluster commander welcomed.\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/develop.citizen.co.za\/germiston-city-news\/news-headlines\/2016\/04\/13\/new-boss-for-new-cluster\/attachment\/img_4712-custom-2\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"270\" height=\"203\" src=\"https:\/\/dwu32cgxelq1c.cloudfront.net\/local_newspapers\/sites\/31\/2016\/04\/IMG_4712-Custom-270x203.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-118076\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-118076'>\n\t\t\t\tNew cluster commander welcomed.\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p>Other articles you may be interested in:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/109528\/primrose-police-welcome-new-commander\/\" target=\"_blank\">Primrose police welcome new commander<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/116251\/ready-to-serve-the-community\/\" target=\"_blank\">Ready to serve the community<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"stream-item stream-item-below-post-content\">\n<div class='tenancy_slot tenancy_slot_1 jannah_ad' style='display: none;' data-query-id='b889c28044082b2b94e42b2e9bfebb0e'><\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Germiston and Katlehong SAPS clusters have amalgamated and are headed-up by Col Max Masha.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1848,"featured_media":117860,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"hasGravity":false,"cxt_article_byline":"Melissa Hart","cxt_disable_google_ads":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,2],"tags":[10603,10604,979,969,1015,2734,999,998],"class_list":["post-117859","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-local-news","category-news-headlines","tag-cluster-commander","tag-ekurhuleni-west-cluster","tag-germiston","tag-germiston-city-news","tag-katlehong","tag-melissa-hart","tag-police","tag-saps"],"amp_enabled":true,"category_labels":{"Category":"News","SubCategory":"Local news"},"tag_labels":["cluster commander","ekurhuleni west cluster","germiston","germiston city news","katlehong","melissa 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