117 Arrests in One Year: Fabio Pitt Claims SAPS Honour

Eastern Cape Reservist Fabio Pitt Wins SAPS Award for 10th Time

Reservist Warrant Officer Fabio Pitt has once again been recognised for exceptional service after being named SAPS Eastern Cape Reservist of the Year at the SAPS Excellence Awards, held on Thursday evening. Remarkably, this is the 10th time Pitt has received the prestigious award — a rare achievement within the South African Police Service and the reservist environment.

Pitt, a dedicated police reservist, was honoured in the category recognising outstanding commitment, performance and contribution by reservists across the Eastern Cape. His repeated recognition highlights years of consistent, high-impact service in some of the province’s most demanding policing environments.

A year of exceptional operational success

During the 2024/2025 financial year, Reservist Warrant Officer Pitt’s operational record stood out even by national policing standards. According to official commendation details, he was directly involved in:

• 117 arrests

• 25 unlicensed firearms recovered, including rifles

• 730 rounds of ammunition seized

• 462 grams of tik confiscated

• 1 514.7 kilograms of abalone recovered

• Various explosives seized

These successes were achieved while working on high-priority investigations and operations, including cash-in-transit robberies, armed robberies, kidnappings, and cases linked to contraventions of the Marine Living Resources Act.

Colleagues describe Pitt’s yearly output as exceptional, with one member noting that many officers do not reach similar figures over the course of an entire career.

Professionalism and teamwork

Beyond arrests and seizures, Pitt was commended for his professionalism, coordination skills, and commitment to justice. He worked closely with multiple specialised SAPS units and external stakeholders, ensuring successful outcomes in complex and high-risk operations.

A fellow reservist described the achievement as “very well deserved”, adding that the team is incredibly proud to have Pitt as a member.

A decade of excellence

Winning the same provincial SAPS excellence award ten times places Warrant Officer Pitt among the most decorated reservists in the Eastern Cape. His achievements reflect the highest standards of policing and embody the core values of the South African Police Service: integrity, commitment and service to the nation.

As SAPS continues to face complex crime challenges, individuals like Warrant Officer Fabio Pitt demonstrate the impact that experience, dedication and teamwork can have on community safety.