Slain Boksburg North officers remembered

The families of two Boksburg North police officers who were killed in the line of duty on October 13 want the perpetrators to be brought to book.

Constable Khotso Malahlela (29) and Sergeant Vusimuzi Batsha (45) were responding to a complaint of unnatural death on the corner of Main Reef and Field roads when they were accosted by three men at 10:45.

The officers were waiting for a mortuary van to arrive when they were disarmed and killed.
The robbers fled with the officers’ service pistols and bulletproof vests.

Friends, colleagues and family paid tribute to the slain men in blue at a memorial service at the Freeway Bible Church on October 19.

Malahlela, from Boksburg North, joined the police force three years ago. Palesa paid a moving tribute to her older brother during the service.

“He always made me feel safe. His smile could light up the room. He had a bubbly personality and he was confident. He saw me the moment I opened my eyes and he saw my first footsteps.”

She told the Advertiser her brother was born in Soweto and moved to Villa Liza a few years later, where he grew up.

“He was a people person. He loved his son, who just turned four, and wanted to get married to his girlfriend.
“My brother was passionate about aeroplanes and loved everything in the sky. He wanted to become a pilot when he was younger. He was a DJ in his free time,” said Palesa.

She added Malahlela’s family is still trying to make sense of everything. Malahlela leaves behind his parents, stepfather, son and sister.

Batsha family representative Amos Mkhwanazi calls for justice.

“It is so painful to lose such young men who have children. We lost someone who dedicated his life to the force. Bheki Cele you need to bring them to book.”

Sergeant Vusimuzi Batsha leaves behind a wife and three children.

Their colleagues were equally devastated.

Sergeant Mlindiseni Ngobese, from the Boksburg North SAPS, spoke of the moment that unfolded after the killing.

“I had just spoken to Batsha and they said they were still waiting for an ambulance. I told him to call the mortuary van as well so they can get there around the same time. While we were eating, we got a call from the community saying the police were under fire at the same address where Batsha and Malahlela were. We got there to find Batsha and Malahlela lying in the street, lifeless. It was so painful.”

Boksburg North SAPS station commander Colonel Mack Mngomezulu said: “We cannot take away the fact that these dedicated officers were brutally murdered. May their souls rest in peace. One does not expect such a serious thing to happen when responding to an inquest. Nevertheless, we will continue fighting to serve the community.”

Police Minister Bheki Cele says he is angered by how the young officers were killed.

“These young people went there on a peaceful mission to provide a service to the community. It makes you angry.

I’m still angry. Police who are fighting in the ambit of the law must be protected. Our system is too sympathetic to criminals than victims.”

Police neither confirm nor deny several other reports related to the incident, saying the requested information forms part of their investigation and that of IPID.

These include reports that the suspects randomly fired shots while fleeing the scene and wounded some residents of the informal settlement.

It’s also unclear as to what happened to the person whose body prompted the police response.

Anyone with information that can help the police arrest the culprits is asked to contact Crime Stop at 08600 10111 or download the MySAPS App. Information will be treated with confidentiality.

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