Fallen heroes and breadwinners remembered

The five brave heroes died during the 2016/2017 financial year while in the line of duty and answering a call to protect and save the communities that they serve. Sadly, all those calls led to their untimely deaths at the hands of rogue and criminal elements and car accidents.

With their tragic departure, their families have become the casualties and are the hardest hit by their passing because they were all breadwinners and providers. At their commemoration, five widows shed inconsolable tears as they remembered their loved ones. It was plain to see that the wounds are still deep and they still miss them terribly.

One of the widows, Nthatise Mogapi from Tegane says her husband, Baliki Mogapi passed away on 21 July last year when he was patrolling the area where an ATM bombing took place in Hartebeesfontein. Six suspects started shooting at his police vehicle and fatally wounded him.

‘He was the breadwinner, there’s no more income in the family. He left us in unbearable pain. He was friendly and loved his children. He had a 6-year-old daughter Keabetswe and 2-year-old twins, Rentlafetse and Oretlametse.

‘Keabetswe always asks when her father is coming back and I don’t know what to tell her,’ says Nthatise. He called me his wife from the first day we met. The SAPS meant everything to him. He always used to say he must protect the community, his family, and the businesses. When I heard the news, I was devastated because I expected him to come back when he left that night. That night was his goodbye to me,’ she said sadly.

Another grieving widow, Tsholofelo Gaelae says the death of Cst Tlholagae has affected the family who all depended on him as the breadwinner. He loved his family and the community he was serving. ‘He was a man of his word. He loved his work and took it very seriously,’ she said.

 

Veronica Sehloho from Ikageng whose partner, Kami Joseph Mabula, died in an accident after taking security officers to their posts, fondly remembers him as a good father, a shoulder to cry on and a provider. His love was immeasurable. Tears may dry, but his love will never dry. I believe that, as he died on duty, he is also a policeman in heaven. She says he met Mabula in 2006 and they had two children, a 9-year-old son, Onalenna, and a 4-year-old daughter, Lemogang. ‘We will miss him, the gap that he left will never be filled by anyone.’

The MEC for community safety and transport management, Dr Mpho Motlhabane, said these heroes will ‘no longer return home to their beloved one, no longer join their families at the dinner table, no longer tuck a child in bed at night or whisper a quiet prayer for their protection.

‘Although nothing positive can ever come of the tragedy of losing these serving members, something constructive must follow. Let each and every one of us in the South African Police Service make a solemn oath today that we will dedicate the rest of our careers in the police to ensuring that our fallen colleagues have not died in vain,’ he said.

 

The provincial commissioner, Lt-Genl Baile Motswenyane said that while it is accepted that we will one day depart from this world, acts of criminality in which our members are killed must be condemned in the strongest possible terms. We will ensure that those who are behind the killing of police officials are not pardoned.’

The five fallen heroes, Sgt TD Molangoanyane (Zeerust), Cst. B Mogapi, Lt-Col T Mokhunoane (Sun City), Cst. B Mogapi (Hartebeesfontein), Cst. O Tlholagae (Vorstershoop), Cst. K Mabula (Klerksdorp) were all breadwinners and, according to the MEC, shared a commitment to something larger than themselves.