Slain Meadowlands station commander buried with full honours

The Mofokeng family can finally begin their grieving process as brigadier Malefetsane Jonas Mofokeng was laid to rest at the Nasrec Memorial Park last Saturday. The funeral service was held at the Grace Bible Church in Pimville.

The Mofokeng sisters expressed their grief at their grave loss and their shock at the brigadier’s untimely death. “Why did you go? That’s what we are asking ourselves. Why did you leave? Life without you is so hard to conceive. Our hearts are damaged and we are severely hurt,” the slain brigadier’s sister, Dikeledi Mofokeng, said.

The Minister of Police, Bheki Cele, promised the Mofokeng family justice and punishment for the criminals who perpetrated this crime. Cele further encouraged police to use any means necessary to protect themselves as criminals have waged a war on the police, according to him.

Cele acknowledged that he had promised the Mofokeng family that the criminals would have been in custody by the time the funeral took place, but this did not come to fruition. “It hasn’t happened, but they shouldn’t think we don’t know them so I want to cool off the family, we are asking for just a little more time,” Cele said.

Cele further warned criminals that they would not kill police officers and get away with it. The minister noted that he had been to four funerals of police officers who were murdered and all perpetrators of the crimes except those of brigadier Mofokeng had been caught at the time of going to print.
“We are going to find them alive or dead, but we are going to find them,” said Cele.

National police commissioner, Khehla Sithole spoke highly of  Mofokeng’s service to the SAPS. “I think today we have a fallen soldier, a fallen soldier who was a patriot that displayed the love for his country for 37 years,” said Sithole.

Sithole further encouraged police not to die with their guns in their hands and protect themselves. “One of the responsibilities of the police is to protect and serve. For them to continue to serve they must live for a cause and in order for them to live for a cause we must make sure they are properly trained. They must use their skills in any situation that arises to stay alive,” he said.

Brigadier Mofokeng was shot and killed on May 16 just outside his residence in Protea South in full view of his daughter. The slain brigadier is survived by his wife Eunice Mofokeng and four children, Raletsapo, Shimi, Matshidiso and Rethabile Mofokeng.