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WE SALUTE YOU

“The South African Police Service pays tribute to its crime fighters. Their lives were taken because they protected ours. We owe them this tribute, for they have laid down their lives to make South Africa a safer place for us all. Warriors against crime, rest in peace. We have recognized your sacrifice. We salute you!”

(Tribute. Published in the SA Police Service Commemoration Day 2005 Programme).

Article by Supt Gerda van den Bos
Photographs by Supt Erica Holtzhausen
 

 
 
Minister Charles Nqakula, the Minister for Safety and Security said in his Budget Vote address of 2005: “We want to reiterate our strong condemnation regarding the killing by criminals of our police officials. We want to assert that no criminal will kill any of our policemen and women and hope to get away with it. Those crimes will be pursued with extraordinary zeal and the perpetrators will be brought to book to face the full might of the law.”
 

At the same event the Minister expressed his appreciation “to the bereaved families for allowing their kith and kin to be part of the SAPS to serve and protect our people.”

On 15 May 2005, at the SAPS annual Commemoration Day, Minister Nqakula Deputy Minister Shabangu, National Commissioner Selebi and other SAPS management members, grieved with family members, friends and colleagues of the police members who were killed last year. Personnel of the Employee Assistance Services were also on duty to give support and advice where needed.

Most people brought flowers to place at the memorial, others just gazed at their loved one’s names on the wall. Two young policemen in uniform saluted a fallen colleague’s name before moving on.

One small girl of about 7 or 8 years of age, caught my eye as she came into the amphitheatre just before the service commenced. She bravely carried a blue-and- white wreath in the form of a cross. Later on, I saw her again, this time she was clutching a knitted bear to her chest.

A small comfort for a great loss, but still a comfort. The knitted bear was one of many distributed to the children by the SAPS. They were knitted and donated by the mothers of the children of a nursery school in Pretoria.

All kinds and colours of flowers were left at the SAPS Memorial, they all portrayed the same message: “We will not forget you. We still miss you. We salute you!”