Mayor responds to EMPD officer’s death
Road-users must practise caution to prevent running over law enforcement officers.
Ekurhuleni mayor Mondli Gungubele made this plea shortly after the death of EMPD officer Danny Hunt.
“These officers are there to save the lives of the very same motorists who run them over,’’ said Gungubele.
”This is quite sad and unacceptable.
”We have lost two officers in the same number of months and it is time that we call on communities and road-users in general to assist us to stop these senseless accidents.”
On April 30, EMPD officer France Langa died when he was knocked down by a vehicle on the R23, in Brakpan, during stop-and-search operations.
Hunt died on the morning of May 21, after being struck by a vehicle on Kingsway Road.
The 49-year-old Metro Police officer was on duty at the time of his death.
EMPD media liaison officer Supt Vusi Mabanga said the accident took place at 5.45am.
”The incident occurred while the officer was busy with speed law enforcement on Kingsway Road,” he explained.
”The driver of a VW Jetta sedan failed to stop as directed by the officer, and ran over him.
”The EMPD officer was certified dead on the scene and the driver escaped the accident unharmed.”
The road was closed for three hours after the accident.
Hunt had 27 years service with the metro, starting in 1987, in the old Benoni Municipality.
The man who drove the vehicle that killed Hunt, who is in his 40s, was arrested and is being detained at the Benoni Police Station.
Mabanga said an investigation is underway.
Hunt is survived by a wife and two children.
