The Minister described Mthethwa’s killing as another tragic loss for the country’s national police, who are already under siege from well-armed criminal gangs.
Mbalula described the suspect responsible for Mthethwa’s murder as a wanted fugitive who already has the blood of at least two other policemen on his hands.
Mthethwa, aged 52, was days away from celebrating his 53rd birthday when he was killed in the early hours of Thursday morning, July 4 just 45 minutes after he left his home to collect members of his task team for duty.
He left home at 3.45am and by 4.30am, his family had received a report informing them of his death.
According to a police statement issued by the Vosloorus SAPS’ media officer, Capt Piet Rossouw, Mthethwa was shot at point-blank range after he and members of his team spotted a suspicious-looking vehicle with false number-plates. The team decided to stop and search the vehicle, and then, as they were approaching, one of the suspects jumped out of the vehicle and ran.
And as WO Mthethwa, took off after him, the man stopped and started firing at the oncoming policeman, killing him instantly. The suspect then continued running and disappeared into the dark. Two of the suspects’ accomplices who were with him in the car, were immediately arrested and taken into custody.
Police minister Fikile Mbalula has described slain police officer WO Sipho Mthethwa as among the bravest members of the police force. He also commended Mthethwa’s commitment to his profession as a police officer.
“WO Mthethwa was one of our bravest officers on the ground, very dedicated. He died chasing criminals and the record we have of him is of bravery, somebody who has given his life and respected the badge of being a police officer.”
Minister Mbalula described Mthethwa as a hero who must be celebrated by the rest of the community as someone who has given his life to protect and serve the nation. He called for criminals to be arrested.
Meanwhile, Mthethwa’s colleagues had high praise for their slain colleague and called him a “dedicated and hard-working officer who never said no to offering a helping hand to his colleagues at work”.
Vosloorus Community Police Forum’s (CPF) secretary, Jerry Ramohapi, described him as a “role-model” policeman.
“He took his job seriously and he was also a dedicated crime fighter and a hard-working police officer. May his soul rest in peace,” said Ramohapi in his tribute, and as one of the Vosloorus CPF officers who escorted the Minister to Mthethwa’s home in Ponong, Vosloorus.
Wiseman Langa, another senior Vosloorus CPF member, also expressed his loss at the death of Mthethwa.
“He loved his job and he never missed a day off work,” said Rossouw, who added: “That’s how dedicated the guy was”.
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