Tears flowed at a remembrance ceremony for 29 police officers who lost their lives in the line of duty, at All Saints Hall in Mthatha on Thursday.
The families of the deceased, including relatives of the five Ngcobo police officers, who were gunned down in an attack on their police station earlier this year, could not hold back tears as their loved ones were fondly remembered during a moving ceremony organised by the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru). The commemoration service also paid tribute to traffic and correctional services officials.
The Ngcobo police station members – Warrant Officer Zuko Mbini, 45, of Zimbane Valley in Mthatha, Kuhle Mathetha, 27, of Cofimvaba, Sibongiseni Sandlana, 32, of Qunu near Mthatha, Zuko Ntsheku, 38, of Luhewini village in Ngcobo and 32-year-old Nkosiphendule Pongco from Ngqeleni – were attacked and killed by gunmen in February.
Subsequent to the attack, six suspects, among them Phuthumile Mancoba, one of the seven so-called “Angels”, were arrested and charged with the murders.
Among those remembered, was slain Elliotdale police station commander Lieutenant-Colonel Nomalizo Dukumbana who was shot and killed by hitmen while entering her house at the police barracks five years ago.
Former policeman Phumzile Ngqayimbana and Siyamcela Ntshitshi were found guilty of the murder and will be sentenced on July 2.
Relatives of the 29 slain officers, including their widows, lit candles while pastors prayed for them.
Latoya Panduva, wife of Constable Lutho Panduva, said her husband committed suicide in July 2016.
He was stationed at Central Police Station. Panduva said she was in Johannesburg doing her nursing practicals when she received the dreaded call.
“Up to today I do not know the reason he killed himself,” said the mother of two children, aged nine and five.
“Life has been not easy for us. There needs to be training about suicide. Their duty is to protect citizens and not turn the guns on themselves,” she said.
Widow NoWelcome Siganga from Mqanduli, said her late husband Mawethu Siganga was on duty when he was brutally killed in a robbery in Ngqeleni in 2012.
“Not much has been done for us by the government since he passed away. Our last-born was in Grade 9 and we were promised school fees will be paid for the children,” said Nowelcome.
The commemoration service was a bitter-sweet occasion for her.
She said she appreciated the fact that Popcru cared about the families, but it would never bring their loved ones back. Policemen and women who attended the service, vowed not to back down in the fight against crime, however, – and would do everything in their power to protect one another in the field.
Constable Ntombuvuyo Mnqibisa- Qhakaza said: “What is important is that we do not lose our focus. We will continue to carry out our duties, despite the police killings”.
Correctional Services officer Kakhule Mpongoma, said security systems in prisons were not sufficient. “The employer must provide us with resources like cameras that are operating, bullet-proof vests and all the necessary security resources for us to perform our duties well.”
Popru provincial deputy secretary Xolani Prusente, said the union believed as many as 80 officers had been killed over the last five years.
“It cannot be correct that we have police officers who are killed on duty, who are there to protect the community. We strongly condemn the police killings. We are actually open to us and the employer coming together and find lasting solutions that can curb police killings,” he said.
“Our police stations need to be secured but open to communities to have access for services,” he added...