![DJ top cop](https://www.westerncape.gov.za/sites/www.westerncape.gov.za/files/top_cop_2.jpg)
Provincial Traffic Inspector (PTI) Dezel John-Lee Gertse received the Western Cape’s “top traffic officer” merit certificate from Provincial Minister of Transport and Public Works Bonginkosi Madikizela on 29 January 2020.
DJ (as his friends know him) went on to represent the province at a national event in Johannesburg on 24 January 2020. There, Minister of Transport Fikile Mbalula commended Gertse for being the officer who made the most arrests for attempted bribery as well as for reckless and negligent driving in the period 1 December 2019 to 15 January 2020.
DJ was born in Laingsburg in 1987. Raised by a single mother, he grew up in circumstances that were not at all easy.
“My mother tried her very best to give me everything that I needed. I received the best education she could afford. I started my primary education in Laingsburg at Acacia Primary School and did my secondary education at Ladismith Senior Secondary where I passed Grade 12 in 2005.”
After finishing school, DJ started working as a security guard supervisor at his uncle’s company. His dream came true in 2012 when he was accepted for the 12-month Further Education and Training Certificate (FETC) in Road Traffic Law Enforcement at Gene Louw Traffic College. After becoming a PTI, he went on to do the Ghost Squad training.
The trip to Johannesburg was DJ’s first flight. “Flying to meet with the Minister was an exciting and amazing experience. I am usually driving my Ghost Squad vehicle. This time I was being driven by a Director.”
DJ aspires to get his degree in traffic management, and to keep growing as a person and as a traffic officer.
“In the near future I see myself as a Centre Manager (Traffic Chief) of a Traffic Centre,” he said. “I want to lead a team that is responsible, motivated, open-minded and willing to learn new things daily so that we can make a difference in traffic law enforcement on provincial and national roads,” he added.
Jandré Bakker
Head of Communication
Department of Transport and Public Works
Email: Jandre.Bakker@westerncape.gov.za