SAPS to honour members who perished in the line of duty

“Policemen and policewomen are the best of our society and their death on duty must never be in vain.” – Minister of police, Fikile Mbalula.

August 31, 2017

Corlia Kruger 9 minutes read

The South African Police Services (SAPS) will host national commemoration day on Sunday, in honour of officers who have died in the line of duty.

During the ceremony, relatives and police leadership will pay their respects to the brave heroes and heroines who died between April last year and March 31.

The police officers to be honoured during this ceremony are:

– Constable TJ Thapedi (31) was stationed at the Diepsloot police station in Gauteng. He was on duty in the area with a colleague when their state vehicle got a flat tyre next to Diepsloot mall. As they stopped to change the tyre, four suspects confronted them and robbed them of their official firearms. Thapedi was shot and killed during the incident. He had served as a member of the SAPS for five years and met his untimely death on 28 June 2016.

– Sergeant X Roji (39) was stationed at operational response services, Cape Town. He was assisting with escort duties, together with two other colleagues, when they were involved in a vehicle accident that claimed his life. He served the SAPS for 13 years and met his untimely death on 8 November 2016.

– Constable M Sandla (35), in the police for 11 years, was stationed at SAPS Delft, Western Cape. He was responding to a robbery in progress in Rosendale on 13 June 2016. The criminals opened fire at him and other police members with AK-47 rifles, fatally wounding him.

– Constable MJ Manabile (33) was stationed at the Norkem Park police station in Gauteng. The officer, who was off duty at the time, was mediating a conflict-riddled situation when one of the people involved stabbed him with a knife. Manabile who served in the SAPS for nine years, died as a result of stab wounds on 20 November 2016.

Police Commemoration Day 2017: All you need to know

– Constable A Ladlokova (33), stationed at the Phillipi East police station in the Western Cape, was responding to a complaint in Acacia Park when three suspects ambushed police officers and fatally wounded him. He had been a policeman for seven years and died on 22 November 2016.

– Constable S Qwanti (28) was stationed at Mount Fletcher, Eastern Cape. He was involved in a search operation with other colleagues when a suspect fired shots at them. The wounded police officers were transported to a hospital where Qwanti succumbed to his gunshot wounds on 10 February this year. He was in the SAPS for five years.

– Constable T Tladi (35) was stationed in Katlehong North in Gauteng. He was responding to a business robbery in progress in the Twala section when, on arrival, four suspects fired shots at him. Tladi sustained gunshot wounds to his head and later died in hospital on 12 January. He had been a policeman for eight years.

List of the fallen heroes and heroines 2016/2017

– A policeman for only a year, Constable S Nikwe (25) was stationed at the Ntuzuma police station in KwaZulu-Natal. While performing crime prevention duties by patrolling the streets, he spotted a suspicious-looking individual. When Nikwe ordered the suspect to stop, the man sprinted off and a chase ensued. The suspect fired shots at Nikwe, fatally wounding him. He died on 13 December 2016.

– Constable SS Magxala (31) stationed at the Mqandlu police station in the Eastern Cape, died in a motor vehicle accident while on duty on 26 December 2016. Magxala was in the SAPS for seven years.

– Constable PE Kekana (34) was stationed at the Tubatse police station in Limpopo. He was conducting an intelligence-led operation in a business robbery case with fellow colleagues when a suspect fired shots and fatally wounded him. He had been in the SAPS for five years and met his untimely death on 20 April 2016.

– Warrant Officer J Homu (52) who was stationed at Ritavi police station in Limpopo, was responding to a burglary in progress at Dan extension in Nkowankowa with a colleague when a shootout ensued with unknown suspects. He was shot and died at the scene on 28 May 2016. Homu had served in the SAPS for 27 years.

– Constable EM Mokgawa (31) was stationed at Kagiso police station in Gauteng. During crime prevention duties he spotted a stolen truck and attempted to stop it. Mokgawa was wounded in a shootout and later died in hospital on 14 March 2016, after serving in the SAPS for six years.

– Constable TJ Mdhluli (32) was stationed at Mabopane police station in Gauteng. The officer was conducting crime prevention duties with a colleague in Mabopane when they spotted a suspicious vehicle and gave chase. The occupants of the vehicle started firing shots at the police vehicle, and ultimately shot and killed Mdhluli, who had served in the SAPS for eight years.

– Constable J Mtiyane (30) was stationed at Bloemspruit police station in the Free State and had six years’ service. He was conducting policing duties at Sonskyn satellite police station with colleagues when they were ambushed by armed criminals. A shootout ensued and Mtiyane was shot and later died in hospital.

– Constable JV Gungqa (44) was stationed at Lady Frere in the Eastern Cape. He was off-duty and shopping in Cala when he got caught up in a business robbery in progress. He was shot and killed by armed suspects. Gungqa was in the SAPS for nine years.

– Warrant Officer D Vertue (46) was a policeman for 27 years and was stationed at the family violence, child protection and sexual offences unit in Kimberley in the Northern Cape, when he attended to a domestic violence complaint on 8 March. He and his team spotted the suspect’s vehicle and tried to effect an arrest. A shootout occurred and Vertue was fatally wounded.

– Sergeant GI Vis (36) who was stationed in Kimberley in the Northern Cape and had served SAPS for 15 years, was part of the tactical response team that attended to a domestic violence complaint. Vis and his team were requested to assist with effecting an arrest in this case. While performing this duty, a shootout ensued between the suspect and police and Vis was wounded. He died on 8 March.

– Lieutenant-Colonel TA Mokhunoane (48) was stationed at Sun City in the North West and was assisting police officers with an arrest when he was murdered. The suspect kicked him in the chest and he fell to the ground. He was declared dead on arrival at the Moses Kotane Hospital on 9 September 2016. He had served in the SAPS for 24 years.

– Constable V Maringa (37) who was stationed in Meadowlands in Gauteng, was on duty with Sergeant Lentsoane and Constable Nyembe at the Ndofaya mall. When they approached suspected robbers, Maringa was shot four times in the chest. He died at Garden City hospital on 9 June 2016. Maringa served in the SAPS for 11 years.

– Constable T Ramulifho (39) was stationed in Kliptown in Gauteng and was performing crime prevention duties when six occupants in a black VW Polo approached him. They got out of their vehicle and started shooting at the police officer. Ramulifho, who was shot in the leg and twice in the upper body, had been in the SAPS for nine years. He died on 27 March.

– Constable M Siwisa (35) of the operational response services division in Table Bay Harbour in the Western Cape, was dressed in full uniform to resume his duties at the Cape Town sea border unit when unknown assailants approached him and shot him in the head and chest. The officer with 10 years service was declared dead at the scene on 12 December 2016. He was robbed of his service pistol and other personal items.

– Constable KK Tsineng (31) was on the lookout for a suspicious-looking vehicle transporting illegal miners during an intelligence-driven operation in Springs. He and his team spotted the vehicle and signalled for it to stop. The occupants started shooting at the police, who returned fire, bringing the suspects’ vehicle to a standstill. Tsineng, who had been stationed at the national intervention unit in Pretoria, was wounded during the shootout and died on 13 August 2016 in hospital. He had served in the SAPS for eight years.

– Constable P Ntete (31) of the national intervention unit in the Western Cape died in a road accident when members of mobile operations in Cape Town requested operational assistance. Three members of Ntete’s unit drove to assist them but their vehicle collided with a truck and all three members, including Ntete, were killed. Ntete had served in the SAPS for eight years.

– Constable TQ Khwela (38), stationed at Brighton Beach in KwaZulu-Natal, was murdered on February 14 when he was attending to a complaint in the vicinity of Rossburgh. He had responded to a business robbery at a convenience store. Upon arrival he saw four suspects fleeing the scene. Kwela disembarked his vehicle and gave chase after the suspects. The robbers fired shots at him with a R5 rifle, fatally wounding him. He was a policeman for six years.

– Constable LP Sikade (40), stationed at Grassy Park in the Western Cape, was shot in the right side of his chest and right arm while he was inside a state vehicle in his driveway. He sustained three gunshot wounds and was robbed of his service pistol. He was declared dead on 18 April 2016. He had served the SAPS for 10 years.

– Constable VN Ndlovu (36) died on 1 November 2016 after suffering several gunshot wounds in an ambush by armed robbers. She was based in Ixopo in KwaZulu-Natal and had served in the SAPS for seven years.

– Constable KM Ncembu, (32) died in a car accident on 3 December 2016 when he and his team were searching for suspects of a farm attack. He had four years’ service and was based in Dewetsdorp in the Free State.

– Sergeant A Mabena (45) was killed on 20 December 2016 after he and his colleagues had responded to a business robbery, having served for 14 years. He was based in Jeppe in Gauteng.

– Constable BG Mogapi (32) was shot and killed by brazen armed robbers during an ATM robbery on 21 July 2016. He had seven years’ service and was based in Hartebeesfontein in the North West.

– Constable MS Mnyakana (34) died in a car accident when he was performing escort duties in the Western Cape on 18 November 2016. He had eight years’ service and was a member of operational response services.

– Constable TE Manyuwa (37) was shot and killed during an ambush by a group of armed robbers in Ebony Park, north of Johannesburg, on 2 April 2016. He had eight years’ service and was based in Ivory Park in Gauteng.

– After 28 years of service in the police, Captain KA Maduna (57) was shot and killed during an armed robbery at a house in Mvango Bophelong near Vanderbijlpak in Gauteng on 5 June 2016. He was stationed in Vanderbijilpark.

– A veteran of 33 years’ service Captain MA Lamola (56) was shot and killed by an awaiting-trial-prisoner who had concealed a firearm in his bag at the Tembisa magistrate’s court on 12 October 2016. Lamola was based in Tembisa in Gauteng.

– Constable MT Makhuvela (29) was stationed at visible policing Ngodwana, Mpumalanga as a reservist of eight years’ service. While performing his duties with other SAPS members, he was involved in an accident and was certified dead on the scene on 25 February 2017.

– Warrant Officer JC Didi (56) was conducting patrolling duties with his colleague when they witnessed two men fleeing from Umlazi clinic after shooting a security guard. The two officers chased the suspects and one of them shot Didi twice in the head. Having served in the SAPS for 30 years and stationed at Umlazi, Kwa-Zulu-Natal he died on 23 May 2016.

– Constable SJM Chiliza (39), based at the King Shaka International Airport, KwaZulu-Natal, was dressed in a full uniform and on his way to work when he was shot and killed at Draai Hoek Umbumkulu road by unknown shooters during an armed robbery. His firearm was stolen. He had served in the SAPS for 11 years and passed away on 28 February 2017.

– Constable SS Msibi (34) of Brixton police in Gauteng was conducting patrolling duties with a colleague when they spotted a dark blue Mazda driving at a high speed in their direction. They stopped the vehicle and searched it. The driver and the passengers were requested to get out of the vehicle when the passenger next to the driver started shooting at Msibi. Though he was wearing a bullet proof vest, he sustained abdominal injuries and died in hospital on 25 April 2016. He was a policeman for five years.

– Constable TVR Mhangwani (38) was stationed at SAPS Giyani, Limpopo. While responding to a business robbery, police came across a suspicious vehicle that fitted the description of the robbery suspects’ vehicle. Police members blocked the suspicious vehicle and the occupants inside the vehicle opened fire at them. Mhangwani was fatally wounded during the shootout on 7 March, having served in the SAPS for eight years.

– Warrant Officer AV Mahlangu (49) was stationed at SAPS Dunnottar, Gauteng. He was reporting at the community service centre (CSC) for night shift duty when three unknown men entered and ordered him to give them the safe keys. As he was reaching the for the keys, attached to his belt, the suspects immediately opened fire and shot him several times in the upper body. He was hospitalised from 8 June 2016 and passed away on 22 January. He was a policeman for 23 years.