WATCH: Colleagues pay tribute to the late Warrant Officer Erasmus

The SAPS held a memorial service for the late Warrant Officer, Willem Erasmus, at the Rand Airport in Germiston on September 8.

Erasmus was one of the five individuals who died in an aircraft crash on August 30. The Pilatus PC-6 Porter crashed shortly after take-off, killing five people, one of whom was Erasmus and gravely injuring a police pilot.

According to Pine Pienaar, deputy chairperson of the Germiston CPF, the late officer Erasmus was a true epitome of a law-guided officer because he served the public with loyalty and with respect throughout the years he served.

“I worked with Erasmus for many years as we were doing the same job of trying to eliminate illicit activities in the community. He used to put the public interest first in whatever he did because of the oath he took when he joined the police and stood by justice in all odds,” said Pienaar.

On August 31, police management sent condolences to the relatives and friends of the police officer and the other four people who died in the crashing of a police fixed-wing aircraft.

Erasmus worked his way up in the police department as he received high honours of achievement and recognition. He was given the Warrant Officer title after 10 years of joining the police force.

According to police spokesperson Colonel Athlenda Mathe, the four passengers were technicians from a company hired to operate and maintain police aircraft.

Erasmus was an airborne law enforcement officer with 29 years of service and was in charge of supplying air support for both crime prevention and search and rescue (SAR) operations.

Captain Casper Swanepoel, a senior pilot with 16 years of experience and the only survivor of the crash, suffered severe injuries and is currently receiving medical attention in a hospital.

Erasmus will be laid to rest on September 13 in Boksburg.

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