Eden Cluster bids Col Tonkin farewell

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GEORGE NEWS - "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

These words from Jeremiah 29:11 started the final interview that George Herald editor Lizette da Silva and journalist Kristy Kolberg had with the legendary detective of the Eden police cluster offices in George, Col Richard Tonkin.

Tonkin, who started his career in the police force back in 1980, bid the uniform farewell on Friday 29 October after spending most of his career as a detective investigating serious and violent crimes and leading investigations of countless gang-related and high profile cases.

His initial wish was to join the former Murder and Robbery Unit, but that was not his destiny.

Photo gallery: Col Richard Tonkin retires

After joining the force, Tonkin spent many years working in Cape Town. "Most of my policing career was spent investigating serious and violent crimes, gang-related crimes and anti-corruption," he said.

In Soweto Tonkin was involved in many political killing investigations, and in the Somerset West and Khayelitsha area his investigations included taxi-related violence.

From 2003 to 2005 he worked in Kraaifontein, where he also met his wife. Following this, he headed the Steenberg police before he was transferred to George in 2011. Here he was appointed as head of the Serious and Violent Crime Unit for three years and his last seven years in service were spent at the Eden Cluster offices as acting detective operational commander.

Memorable cases

Tonkin has probably handled thousands of high profile cases, but some remain vivid in his memory.

One of the cases he highlighted was the inferno that claimed the life of Reshall Jimmy in Wilderness in 2015. Jimmy burnt to death in his Ford Kuga while on holiday in Wilderness in December and it was up to Tonkin and fellow detective, Sgt Thembekile Matwa, with assistance from Adv Gerrie Nel, to prove that it was not suicide, but indeed due to a manufacturing fault.

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This case was one of only five inquests in the history of South Africa to be heard in the High Court. In the end, among other payouts, Ford agreed to pay a fine of R35 000 000 and a total of 4 556 Kuga 1.6 EcoBoosts were recalled in January 2017.

Another career highlight was when Karl Stellenberg, the mastermind behind the cruel and unscrupulous 2014 attack on his wife, Frendeline, was sentenced to 18 years in prison in the Circuit High Court in George.

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His co-accused and the man he hired to murder his wife, Jimmy Sampson, was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Stellenberg has since passed away.

Tonkin, along with Capt Wynand Westraadt, was also involved in the investigation of the brutal rape and murder of Plettenberg Bay hospice nurse, Penny Cumming (63). He also headed the investigation of the killing of the retired British couple, Brian and Christene Davis of Knysna in 2015. Double life sentences were handed down in both cases.

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He described the 2018 disappearance of Marie Ostbo (21) from Norway as one of the cases that will stay with him forever.

Ostbo arrived in Sedgefield with a group of young international student tourists in April and disappeared after a walk on the beach. She has still not been found. "It's always troubling to not get closure," said Tonkin.

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Tonkin also assisted in the 2018 murder investigation when ANC councillor Victor Molosi was gunned down only a few metres from his home in Knysna.

He answered a few questions:

What will you miss most?

"The adventure, the crime scenes and the interaction with the various partners that assist us. The media in the Garden Route has always been kind to the police. And we've got strong partnerships between the provincial communications desk and the various media houses in the area. It's always been a good read, because they cover and project the realities out there. So, in terms of what I will miss most, it's that camaraderie."

Hobbies to be taken on

Believe it or not, Tonkin has a strong inspiration to take up his former swimming career and aims to perform on provincial and national levels as a veteran. Cycling is also on the radar.

Advice to up-and-coming police members

"Integrity is crucial. Temptation is around every corner. Those that are not called to be policemen are easily tempted to take a wayward look. Integrity is part of justice. Do the basics properly, be disciplined and commit yourself to the order and procedures that are part of your daily tasks.

"Being polite and professional costs nothing. If you can, continue to be polite and professional, use wisdom around your elders and mentors and apply it."

Life from here

Watch this space. After casting his vote on Monday, Tonkin will embrace life with new zeal and a new vision.

"I'm a spiritual person by nature and I will be in service to Him to fulfill my calling. I thank my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and my lovely wife Madelaine for the strength, love and support. Mads still has to work on in the police, but I will continue to support her."

And as for being called Eden Cluster's "spanner boy", well, it's best to ask him yourself.

George Police Sgt. John Boesak (left) and Col Richard Tonkin at the scene of a burglary in George a few years back. Photo: Ilse Schoonraad