“WE forgive the man who killed our father.” These were the words of Captain Basil Naidoo’s youngest daughter, Jenna-Lee who spoke today, not only of the ordeal surrounding the death of her father but also of his legacy. Her father was killed last Friday in a hail of bullets when he responded to a housebreaking at a complex in Riverside Road.Police believe he was ambushed and that he died from a gunshot wound to his head. Jenna-Lee, her sister Leeann and mother Charmaine spoke to the Northglen News in an exclusive interview at the Greenwood Park  Police Station, Captain Naidoo’s place of work for more than 10 years.

Leeann said: “My father’s death was not in vain. The way he died showed the world  what a hero he was. He always said that he would take the bad guy down and that is what he done. He died a hero.”

His wife Charmaine said even though it was a difficult time, it was a “relief” that Captain Naidoo had died a hero. “He was always doing police work. Even at home. Everyone knew to call Basil. Sometimes we would tell him that he  must put his phone off. He even printed pamphlets from his own pockets telling people to call 10111 in case of an emergency, but they would still call him.”

In three months time the couple would have celebrated their 29th wedding anniversary. At the end of March he would have completed 30 years of service in the police force. Last year, in September  for the first time the family arranged a photo shoot in which Captain Naidoo appeared happy. “He loved God and he loved his family.”

Their message to the wounded suspect  who is still at large: “ The right thing for him to do is for him to turn himself in, because we forgive him.”

But police today said it was simply a matter of time before Captain Naidoo’s alleged killer was tracked down. “We will leave no stone unturned in finding the man who done this,” Lt Elvis Naidoo, spokesman for Greenwood Park Police Station said today.

“We think that Captain Naidoo, whose actual duty was an HR officer, got the call that the housebreaking had already occurred. When he arrived at the Athlone Mews complex, the gate opened for him so he drove up. He drove to a dead-end in the complex and we think that the suspects watched him enter.”

Lt Naidoo said they believed that the suspects opened fire even before Basil alighted the patrol car. “He was not the only officer who attended to the call out. The other officers arrived after him and they were unable to get into the complex because the gate closed. They were outside when Captain Naidoo came under attack, they did not know.”

A sombre mood hangs over the Greenwood Park Police station as the colleagues of Captain Basil Naidoo try to come to terms with his death.

Slain officer a loss to community

Sad time as community mourns the loss of hero cop