Mjwara’s brave service celebrated at state funeral
KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sihle Zikalala has called for more work to be done to recognise the work of the police and to honour them, because they are the ones who continue to go out and risk their lives to serve their communities. Zikalala said this during the state funeral service for fallen female diver, Sergeant Busisiwe Mjwara (42), last Friday at the Pietermaritzburg City Hall.
Mjwara, who was attached to the Pietermaritzburg Search and Rescue (Sar) police diving unit, died in the line of duty on
April 17, while conducting a search in the Msunduzi River for three victims who had drowned a few weeks ago, when she got into difficulty and drowned. Service dog K9 Leah also drowned trying to rescue Mjwara.
“Her sudden departure calls for more investments in the training of our police and in strengthening the skills capacity of police officers in specialised search and rescue operations.
“We hope her memory will remind our nation that police are also human beings with families, aspirations, fears, and dreams,” said Zikalala, adding that Mjwara served her nation selflessly and with distinction.
He said Mjwara believed she could find and rescue three missing persons, or at least their bodies, in the Umsunduzi River.
“She was determined to help the families find closure and she was unprepared to give up her effort to lessen the pain of their loved ones. Today, it is easier for us to see and speak of her patriotism, bravery, and heroism. But when all is said and done, the life of Sergeant Mjwara teaches us that courage and bravery are born out of deep care for others.”
Delivering the eulogy at the funeral service, Police Minister General Bheki Cele told mourners that Mjwara’s contribution to the police force should be celebrated.
“Police divers are a specialised unit of the Saps that bring much needed closure to families who have lost their loved ones to drowning. This member was doing exactly that when she met her untimely death, and we will forever be indebted.
“The loss of [Mjwara] came at a time when operations to find bodies of those who are still unaccounted for, following the devastating floods, continue so this loss has dealt us a blow. We have lost a brilliant and dedicated member, who was an asset not only to Saps, but to the nation.”
Her unit commander, Lieutenant-Colonel Schalk Scheepers, said she was an inspiration to the younger generation. “Many of us admired her for her bravery, grit and determination. The recovery of bodies is not an easy job; it’s not something that any of our normal policeman can do. It takes a special character to work here.”
He added that she joined Saps in 2008 and was stationed at Mooi River police station until she was transferred to Hilton in 2014, where she worked in radio control. She joined the Hilton Search and Rescue Unit in 2016, where she was a pioneer in a field mainly dominated by men.
“We salute you; we honour you. You are our hero. To the families, thank you for sharing Busi with us, it is our prayer that God will comfort you and your whole family during this time of grieving,” he added.