Captain Errol Tustin passes on

CAPTAIN Errol Tustin (45) has died. He died at his home on Wednesday last week, coincidentally two days after his plight received national coverage in an article in the Citizen newspaper.

The Citizen article by Amanda Watson, again drew attention to Errol Tustin’s pain-ridden existence, and the apparent official indifference, since he was shot in the throat in July 2001. Errol is quoted as saying,

“It is said a member pays the highest price if he loses his life on duty. But believe me, people like us pay the highest price every day when injured on duty and left paralysed in a sea of pain. Support from the SAPS is so slow and sometimes non-existent, sometimes I feel I am being ignored and fighting is exhausting.”

One thing seems to be evident from the Citizen’s article. Errol’s endless positivity, courage and faith is missing from the report.

It is that positivity, courage and faith that has been his hallmark for the past 14 years since he was shot during police operations in the Isithebe Reserve near Mandini. At the time Errol was a Captain in the SAPS Empangeni Dog Unit.

He survived, and recovered sufficiently to be able to return to work. But his workplace here at the SAPS in Vryheid did not take into account Errol’s disability, He was all but a cripple, and was compelled to work upstairs.

Almost inevitably he fell, in fact he fell badly and he was left with debilitating injuries which meant he had to stop work.

Then his real trial began.

Despite many medical interventions Errol was in constant, agonising and acute pain. When the Vryheid Herald spoke to him in September this year, he described the pain as “having your legs immersed in boiling water, and as if someone is jabbing your lower body with an electric probe, again and again and again.”

Added to this, Errol had the burden of a constant worry about money and his ability to pay for any and all medications and treatments, right down to things as basic and as necessary for his existence as catheter bags and earbuds.

It may not be strictly true but over the years one got the impression that one-time SAPS Captain Errol Tustin had been abandoned by the service that he literally gave up his normal life for.

And yet, even then in September, it was clear that Errol had not lost his faith. He said then that he tried to count his blessings every day. He said, “All I ask is that the Lord’s will be done, because it’s the Lord who keeps us sane.” He asked that people pray for him – “I need prayer,” he said.

He got those prayers. The Errol Tustin Prayer Group existed as a facebook group.

There is a sliding door on the north side of his bedroom that leads out into the garden. He said in September that birds hop into the room to be fed, among them a one-legged Cape Wagtail. “It taught me a lesson,” said Errol, “it wasn’t complaining, so who was I to complain?”

Perhaps now, if we reflect on the man we knew, it is Errol’s example which is the lesson to be learned.

A memorial was held for Errol Tustin at the Klipkerk Wednesday this week.

He leaves his wife Cecile.