By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
President Cyril Ramaphosa stood before a crowd gathered at the Union Buildings in Pretoria and addressed a growing concern: the rising number of police officers losing their lives in the line of duty in South Africa.
Thirty-four police officers and reservists died in the line of duty between 1 April 2022 and 31 March 2023.
Addressing the sombre event at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, Ramaphosa said there must be justice “and there will be justice” for the families of the fallen “heroes and heroines”.
In the 2022/2023 financial year, at least 34 dedicated members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) made the ultimate sacrifice while serving and protecting their communities.
The names of the 34 police officers killed in the past year have been engraved on the Memorial Wall at the Union Buildings, forever symbolising their invaluable contributions to the ongoing fight against crime and serving as a lasting reminder of their brave efforts to safeguard South Africa’s communities.
Since 2018 at least 488 suspects have been arrested for the deaths of police officers.
Through diligent investigative work, nine convicted police killers were handed down life sentences, a total of 158 years imprisonment. “We must continue to arrest, prosecute and convict those who wilfully undermine the authority of the state.
“The members we are remembering today were spouses, parents, sons and daughters, siblings, colleagues, and so much more. Many of them were breadwinners,” said Ramaphosa.
Ramaphosa also pleaded with the management of the South African Police Service to work together to ensure that police officers were safe while performing their duties.
“Far too many of our officers are dying off duty. The SAPS management needs to deepen efforts to improve the wellness of officers. Police must be taken care of physically, mentally and psychologically.”
“The lives of police officers should be valued not just by their colleagues but by everyone who lives in our country,” he said. “To the families of the fallen officers, we pray that you find peace and healing,” added Ramaphosa.
Ramaphosa’s address comes on the back of the killing of 19 people suspected of planning to carry out a cash-in-transit heist. They were killed during a shootout with police in Makhado, Limpopo on Friday.