Remembering lives of fallen heroes

Western Cape police paid tribute to three police officers who were shot and killed and three others who were injured in shootings in just six days across the city.

Speaking at a memorial service at the New Apostolic Church, in Tafelsig yesterday, Tuesday November 29, provincial commissioner, Lieutenant General Khombinkosi, Jula described it as a “mass killing”.

He said this was an attack on the police who are supposed to serve and protect the community but they are being killed.

“This week has been a painful and traumatic experience, (aside from the killings) there have been other attempts on the lives of our members,” he said.

The police had a wreath laying ceremony in front of the Philippi East police station ahead of the memorial service.

This was to honour the late Constable Amanda Ladlokova, who was stationed at Philippi East police station; Constable Thanduxolo Ndiki, who was stationed at Athlone police station; and Constable Masibonge Nqwaba, who was stationed at Mitchell’s Plain police station.

In the latest incident, a 33-year-old sergeant was shot in the foot, and police vehicles damaged in the early hours of Sunday November 27 in Manenberg Avenue.

During the same incident, a 25-year-old man was also left with serious injuries after being shot in the head.

The sergeant was the sixth police officer shot within six days in Cape Town and the second officer shot within three days in Manenberg. On Thursday November 24, Captain Ettienne Conradie was shot in the stomach while busy with an operation in Renoster Walk.

Constable Masibonge Mqwada, 33, was off-duty when he was shot and killed during an attempted hijacking in Bloekombos, Kraaifontein, in the early hours of Saturday November 26. Constable Thandoxolo Ndiki, 30, was found shot in the upper body in Delft on the same day. He died later in hospital.

Constable Amanda Ladlavuka, was shot and killed in Philippi East on Tuesday November 22. Her partner was shot and wounded in the same incident.

Meanwhile, Community Safety MEC, Dan Plato, has offered a reward of R100 000 for anyone with information that will result in the arrest and conviction of those who killed police officers in the Western Cape. In a statement, Mr Plato said: “The Western Cape Government condemns cop killings.

“While we have no operational control over SAPS, our government is committed to supporting the hard working officers who put their lives on the line every day to protect others.

“Though no reward will bring back the fallen officers to their loved ones, I sincerely hope that anyone with credible information on the incidents will do the right thing and assist the police and law enforcement authorities. It is important to remember that police killings, however unrelated, remain the vicious acts of individuals who do not represent the sentiment of the broader community.

“Only a select few in our society are responsible for these crimes. Those responsible for the crimes are, however, someone’s child, someone’s sibling or someone’s neighbour – these are the people that need to break their silence and assist the police.

Anyone with information can contact Manenberg SAPS at 021 699 9400 or Crime Stop at 08600 10111.