Motorcade tribute for slain Bluff response office
Pumzile is survived by his wife and children and an account has been opened for the public to donate to his family. Donations can be made to Investec Bank, branch code 580105, account number 50006466461 with the reference 'Pumzile'
CONDOLENCES and messages have poured in for Pumzile Fitshane (44), along with two motorcade tributes to the Blue Security response officer who succumbed to a fatal gunshot wound sustained in a home invasion in Maxwell Avenue on the Bluff on Monday, 6 November.
Blue Security staff were left heartbroken after learning their colleague and friend had died on Monday, after spending much of the night in a critical condition in hospital.
“Our management and staff are devastated by the loss of Pumzile, who had faithfully served Blue Security and local residents for the past three years,” said Blue Security’s Andries Mathios.
Blue Security managing director, Henk van Bemmelen described Pumzile as “…a man who took his work seriously with dedication and commitment and who put his life on the line and lost it while protecting the innocent. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family who have lost a husband, a father and a provider. We trust the police will bring swift justice to the perpetrators who have robbed us all of a hero.”
Pumzile was shot when he responded within minutes of a call about a home invasion in Maxwell Avenue. There he encountered a gang of eight men who had arrived in two vehicles. Two men armed with automatic rifles, who were stationed as look-outs in one of the vehicles parked in the driveway, got out and fired at him. A domestic worker who was alone in the house was also hospitalised for treatment, as she was injured when she jumped over a wall to a neighbouring property to escape the gang.
A motorcade held in Pumzile’s honour was attended by more than 200 people on Friday and Saturday, 10 and 11 November. Motorists drove from Edwin Swales Drive to where he was shot. Many were emotional at what happened to the response officer whose main goal was to protect the Bluff. Donations of food were amassed for Pumzile’s family.
Resident Jane Pottier expressed her sadness and said he would be remembered as a hero.
“Pumzile, like many officers, vow to serve and protect and to have his life cut short doing what he was passionate about, really breaks my heart,” she said, while touching a cross.
Peter Williams from Wayside Cross Association Pinetown, who made and donated the beautiful white cross to symbolise Pumzile’s spirit, thanked Janine East for her initiative as a local resident to drive the memorial cause and Andreas Mathios for his support in making everyone aware. “South Africa has turned into chaos and mayhem and our local communities should stand up together to take back their streets and farms themselves, one at a time. The community must become the eyes and ears of the brave men of the security industry who are at the forefront of this battle, like Pumzile who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the pursuit of protecting his clients and community. SAPS and Metro Police must be assisted to bring these lawless murderers to justice to pay for such hideous crimes,” said Williams.
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We should not allow Pumzile’s sacrifice to be in vain. “Only together as an united front can we, the community, with the support of the security industry and assistance of the law, regain control of the law-abiding country we so dearly love. Only in unity is strength,” he added.
Captain Louise Le Roux from Brighton Beach SAPS said detectives are investigating a case of house robbery and murder. The cluster trio task team is searching for the perpetrators and informers have been activated.
Pumzile is survived by his wife and children and an account has been opened for the public to donate to his family. Donations can be made to Investec Bank, branch code 580105, account number 50006466461 with the reference ‘Pumzile’. A collection point has also been set up at 20A Beach Road on the Bluff, where locals can drop off any form of donation.
