ROAD CLOSURE: Memorial drive for fallen Kempton police officer tonight
Four suspects had been nabbed by the police in connection with the crime
Members of the Kempton Park security industry will have a memorial drive tonight (February 5) to commemorate fallen police officer Const Rudzani Khalushi (36).
The memorial drive will start at 6.45pm from the parking area at Glen Acres Spar on the corner of Dann and Monument roads. From there, the convoy will proceed to Kempton Park Police Station.
Those participating are asked to arrive by 6.15pm.
Once they arrive at the station on Monument Road, members will place flowers in the station’s courtyard.“We would like to show our support and respect for your loss,” organiser of the event and Moto-Track director Horace Pizer told Kempton Park SAPS. “You and the family of Const Khalushi have suffered a tremendous loss.”
Khalushi died on Sunday after being wounded during an armed robbery on West Street two days before.
A manhunt by the police resulted in four suspects being arrested.
According to Capt Jethro Mtshali, spokesperson for Kempton Park SAPS, Khalushi was among those who responded to an armed robbery at Jet on West Street in the central business district on Friday afternoon at 5pm. He was wounded and died in Arwyp on Sunday morning at 11am.
Mtshali said four armed men held up staff at Jet before they stole an undisclosed amount of cash and several cellphones.
“The police were called to the scene and on their arrival found the suspects were still on the scene. The suspects fired several shots at the police, wounding Khalushi. One suspect was also wounded and a firearm recovered. Three other suspects fled the scene in a silver VW,” said Mtshali.
The police continued searching for the suspects and spotted them on Central Avenue at about 11pm on Friday night. They were arrested and a further two firearms were recovered.
The four suspects, two aged 32 and two aged 21 and 24, will face charges of armed robbery, possession of unlicensed firearms and murder in Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court.
The station commander of Kempton Park SAPS, Brig Samuel Maredi, conveyed his condolences to the family. He praised the members for the speed in which all the perpetrators were caught.
Khalushi had two young children and was in the police force for 11 years. A memorial service will be held at Maranatha Community Church on Thursday at 10am.He will be buried in Venda on Saturday.
