Police members have been urged to pray for divine protection before going to work as they never knew if they would return home that night to their loved ones.
This was said to a packed gathering at the Altrec Sports complex by National Police Commissioner Riah Phiyega during the funeral service of Major Thomas Moetlo who was buried at the Westpark Cemetery at the weekend.
Moetlo was gunned down on 4 June in his office at the Alex police station by a colleague, Sergeant Ronny Masie.
The sergeant also killed his wife and two of her relatives who were reporting a case of domestic abuse against the sergeant. The killings have resulted in the suspension of three of the station’s top heads as further investigations continue.
Click here to read: Alex Police Station Commander suspended after fatal shooting at cop shop
Phiyega said the deaths had shocked the nation and left her perplexed at its callousness. “It happened at a place where the public should run to for protection and service, and more worrying was that the killings were committed by one whose oath was to serve and protect residents and the nation.”
She said every time she attended a police officer’s funeral, her hope was that it would be the last, but more officers were being buried which signified a worrying trend about crime in the country.
“It’s illogical and a revulsion to kill someone who dedicates his life to protecting others in a job which few are courageous to join, as it is demanding, difficult, daunting and dangerous. Those who do should be protected for putting national security interests ahead of their own and of their families.”
The MEC for Public Safety and Security, Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane said Moetlo’s death warranted a provincial government’s apology to his family as it happened at his place of work, a place of safety, where police should protect the public and be seen to protect each other.
She urged other officers to emulate Moetlo’s character, dedication and selflessness if they were to earn the publics’ respect when in uniform.
Provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Lesetja Mothiba said further investigations of the incident may lead to more suspensions at the station, and urged management at other stations to improve their management to avoid similar incidents.
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