Nine police officers from the Newcastle Public Police Order Policing Unit were involved in a serious accident last week.

The officers were travelling in a state vehicle when it overturned near the Mooi River Toll Plaza.

Eight officers were injured and 36-year-old Dumisani Hadebe sustained fatal injuries. KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Mxolisi Kaunda described the officer’s death as “a set-back in the fight against crime.”

“It is, indeed, so painful to wake up to such news that a police officer has died in a road accident in KwaZulu-Natal. Our women and men in blue dedicate their lives to protect the lives and families of all of us. This loss is a huge setback in our battle against crime and criminals as we are operating with a small number of officers,” he added.