Police commissioner condemns ambush killings of SAPS officers, vows justice
On Women’s Day, National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola condemned the recent fatal attacks on SAPS officers, highlighting the loss of dedicated law enforcement personnel as assaults on justice and the rule of law.
National police commissioner General Fannie Masemola condemned the killing of SAPS members, describing the attacks as assaults on the Justice and Crime Prevention Security Cluster and direct challenges to the rule of law.
Speaking on Women’s Day (August 9) during visits to the families of Warrant Officer Vuyisile Sintwa (51) and Sergeant Simon Masenye (45). Masemola said the deaths of law enforcement officials should not be reduced to statistics.
The two Johannesburg Trio Task Team members were fatally shot on Friday while transporting a suspect from court to prison.
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The suspect, identified as awaiting trial prisoner Jabulani Moyo, escaped during an ambush in Roodepoort’s CBD and remains at large.
A large-scale manhunt is underway, with a R150 000 reward offered for information leading to his capture.
Masemola revealed that three police officers had been killed in the last 24 hours alone, with six murdered since April 1 in ambushes or criminal attacks. In the 2024/25 financial year, 27 officers were killed in the line of duty.
“These are not just numbers; they were mothers and fathers, breadwinners and dedicated officers who laid down their lives to protect South Africans from criminals,” Masemola said.
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The Hawks are leading the investigation into the Roodepoort shootings, with leads being pursued from witness accounts and CCTV footage from a filling station where the officers stopped before the attack.
The police have also offered a R150 000 reward for information on the killers of Sergeant Lawrence Mtshweni (47) who was gunned down while responding to a business burglary in Schoemansdal.
Masemola urged officers to remain vigilant and act decisively when under threat, adding, “I salute all the police officers who continue to risk their lives for our safety. Continue the work your fallen colleagues started. Be decisive and remain vigilant.”
