Ms Barton and her family were returning from Johannesburg on a public holiday recently when their vehicle broke down in a very deserted and gang-related area.  Ms Barton is a member of the AA group and gave them a call to assist the family.  Since the area was quite dangerous, Mr Barton called the police to assist as well.  Two constables responded to the call and arrived on the scene within 10 minutes.  The AA vehicle only arrived at the scene after 3 hours.

In that 3-hour period, the two constables refused to sit in their vehicle but stood outside the Barton's vehicle, watching over them.  The Bartons were unsure whether the AA vehicle was ever going to arrive, but the policemen reassured them that they would secure tentative accommodation for the family until the morning, even if it meant the family would be accommodated at their homes.

The length that the two policemen went to to assist this particular family is highly commendable.  Ms Barton noticed the advertisement in the Sunday Times on 30/01/2000 encouraging members of the public to compliment members of the SAPS that have gone an extra mile in performing their duties.  Ms Barton expressed her hope that such members of the SAPS, in particular the two that assisted her family, would receive some sort of recognition for their effort.