Grieving families commemorate police who died in line of duty

A sombre mood filled the Union Buildings garden yesterday when family members of slain police officers wept as the fallen heroes were remembered at the National Commemoration Day.

The event, hosted by the South African Police Service, paid tribute to 40 officers who died in the line of fire between April 1, 2016, and March 31, 2017.

A wreath-laying ceremony by family members – mostly wives, mothers and children – was a tearful task for the next of kin. Emergency services and police chaplains assisted the bereaved families, with some relatives being taken away by wheelchair.

Giving the welcoming address, Minister of Police Fikile Mbalula said the suspended programme, which assisted children of officers who died in the line of duty, would be revived.

He gave a stern warning to dangerous criminals, saying they should be dealt with accordingly, particularly in Gauteng, which was the priority area in crime fighting.

“Wherever they are, they must know we are coming. We’ll find them. We’ll clean them out of the streets and smoke them out of their holes. We will fight crime with the ferocity of a cornered bull and the agility of a cat, with an uncompromising spirit.”

He called out South Africans for “harbouring” criminals and protecting them by buying stolen goods.

Acting President Cyril Ramaphosa, who led the commemoration, thanked the families for the price their loved ones had to pay in keeping the country safe.

In their memory, in their honour, take your place, stake your claim and win the fight against crime. Take back our streets. Cyril Ramaphosa Acting president

“We can only imagine the agony of recollecting that morning, that day or that night when loved ones left home to serve and protect, never to return.

“We can only imagine the heart-wrenching pain of those left behind without a husband, wife, mother, father, brother, sister and a favourite uncle or aunt.”

He urged citizens to “take back the streets” to assist in ridding crime.

“In their memory, in their honour, take your place, stake your claim and win the fight against crime,” said Ramaphosa.

“Take back our streets and communities and rid them of crime. Bring criminals to justice and ensure that no person is beyond the long arm of the law.”