Beloved traffic officer laid to rest in Heroes Acre

One of Merafong’s best-known traffic officers passed away just after new year.

According to the Merafong City Local Municipality, Sello William Mooki was appointed as a learner traffic officer in the Carletonville Local Transitional Council in 1996. In April 1997, he qualified after completing his diploma at the Boekenhoutskloof training facility. In August of the same year, he was appointed as a Grade III traffic officer.

On 26 April 2000, Sello married Busi Skosana and the couple had two children – a daughter Khanyisile, who wrote matric last year and a son, Obakeng. Mooki also leaves behind a daughter Keoikantse Mbisi.

“Over his almost 20 years of service Sello Mooki rendered excellent service to the Municipality and the community. In 2001, he received a commendation for excellent service during the execution of the Arrive Alive Campaign. He showed courage during various operations including the floods that occurred in Welvediend during 1996. In November 1998, while patrolling in the Carletonville CBD, Mr. Mooki assisted with efforts to stop armed robbers who had just robbed Miladys. Shots were fired and Mr. Mooki raced in to support fellow officers who were being fired at by the robbers. Mr. Mooki was also responsible for the apprehension of armed highjackers who took a truck in Potchefstroom and were stopped as they came through Carletonville. Mooketsi was injured during this incident.
“It was incidents such as these that led to him being laid to rest in the Carletonville Heroes Acre,” a municipal spokesperson said.

In 2002, Mooki was appointed as the acting superintendent VIP. On 1 July 2014, he was appointed as superintendent Traffic, a post that he held until he passed away on 2 January 2016.

According to the municipality, an overview of Mooki’s life would be incomplete without highlighting the relationship he had with the community he served.

A local farmer who visited him in the week before he passed away remarked that although he was too ill to sit up, he still tried.
“He was still the humble caring person we met so many years ago, while, in pain, my comfort was more important to him than his own.”

Messages on Facebook from across the spectrum of Merafong City illustrate that Mooki was much loved and respected in the community.

Even though he was sick with terminal cancer for an extended period of time, very few people realised this because he gave no indication of his own situation. He was always helpful, friendly and concerned about the well-being of others.