Slain police constable Donay Phillips (32), who grew up and attended school in George, was laid to rest in Pacaltsdorp this morning.

Phillips tragically died on Sunday 8 May following a shooting at the New Somerset Hospital in Cape Town the previous day.

Phillips, who was stationed at Sea Point Police Station, was shot dead while guarding a 35-year-old suspect at the hospital.

According to information he heard an exchange in another part of the hospital and went to investigate.

A fight ensued, after which a former policeman, Jean Paul Malgas (40), who was involved in the altercation, grabbed Phillips’ service firearm and shot him, as well as the two other patients.

Family members, friends, colleagues together with the Deputy Minister of Police, Cassel Charlie Mathale, Deputy National Commissioner for Crime Detection, Lieutenant General Ntshinga, Divisional Commissioner, Lieutenant General MM Mothlala and SAPS provincial management attended the funeral service at the St Albans Church in Pacaltsdorp.

Sergeant Chris Spies, chairman of the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) in the Southern Cape said, they received the sad news of the untimely passing of one of their youngest members who joined the organisation during March 2016 while undergoing basic police training at Bishop Lavis.

Spies said it is a sad day for the union. “We will remember his unwavering loyalty to the union and his contribution to the struggle for the emancipation of the working class. Phillips served the country with dedication, commitment and integrity.”

“An attack on a police officer is an attack on the Democratic State. A death of a police officer is one officer less to protect the heart earned democracy for which many sacrifices were made over a period of time. The killing of members rob society of those who are on the frontline to safeguard communities and those deployed to protect the most vulnerable in society especially our women, children, people with disabilities and the elderly. We reiterate our call for the amendment of the criminal laws to impose heftier measures and penalties for those found to have attacked police officers or any law enforcement officials in the country. This stems from our belief that an attack on law enforcers is not just an attack on them as individuals, but an attack on the state as a representative of the people,” said Spies.

Phillips leaves behind his parents Sophia and Cornelius, brother Shane and fiancé, Jody.