27 JANUARY 2013

 

The Honourable Minister of Police, Mr Mthethwa

The Honourable Minister for State Security, Mr Cwele

The MEC'S for Safety, Security and Liaison present

Deputy National Commissioners of the SAPS

Divisional and Provincial Commissioners

Directors General of other Government departments

The Secretary of Police

Members of the Community Policing Forum Board

The Board of the SAPS Education Trust

The labour unions POPCRU and SAPU

Religious leaders present

Representatives of all SAPS external stakeholders

Police members in blue of all ranks

Family members and friends of the fallen members of the SAPS

Members of the news media

Ladies and gentlemen

 

My humble greetings you on this day on which we offer our thanks and praise to those members of our police family who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country - those who have offered up their own lives.

 

The loss of life on duty - particularly of the custodians of law, the protectors of our communities and of the Constitution - remains a matter of great concern and is a phenomenon which is most unwelcome in our country.

 

Some of the members whose names have been engraved on this memorial stone have had long and distinguished careers in the SAPS. Some had just started out on their journey of protecting others. But all had their lives cut short too soon.

As the many loved ones, friends and colleagues here with us at the police memorial still feel the raw grief of their loss, let us reflect together on the lives of our fallen heroes - the men and women in blue who we are commemorating today.

 

The SAPS has lost giants; courageous men and women in different policing fields, driven by a desire to serve, many of them taken so abruptly as a result of that very calling. But perhaps the greatest loss is to South Africa, now and in the future, for our country has been deprived of the courage, the passion, the skills and the insight that were unique to these members.

 

To the families, you have suffered a loss that no amount of tears can replace. Today we come together as a nation to acknowledge the selfless contribution to the attainment of a safe and peaceful democratic South Africa that your loved ones have made. I am proud of these colleagues of ours who never steered from the cause of justice.

 

George Elliot wrote: "Our dead are never dead to us, until we have forgotten them".

 

Let us never forget them.

 

We must also never believe that the sacrifices that these police officers made were in vain. Rather we must realise that these sacrifices were made for the betterment of our society and that we, as a nation, will benefit from their heroic deeds. As South Africans, we owe our fallen heroes a debt that can only be repaid by remembering them always and through the achievement of their dreams - ensuring that all in our country are and feel safe.

 

 

Women and men in blue, I understand the daunting tasks and challenges that you face daily in the fight against the ruthless criminals in our communities, who remain the enemy of all of us. Indeed, all our members of the SAPS need the patriotic friendship and support of the South African community. Our police officials, from constable to general, remain committed to upholding the Constitution and the law, taking into account the needs of the community and cooperating with interested parties in the private sector and government to bring all perpetrators to justice.

 

Without the active support of the community, it is unrealistic to expect the SAPS to fight crime effectively. The presence of our many stakeholders here, including Community Policing Forum board members as well as the board of the SAPS Education Trust, is proof that we have your support.

 

The establishment of the trust fund is indeed a symbol of how the SAPS honours its responsibility to the dependents of our fallen heroes. This initiative also requires the concerted efforts and support of the South African public, particularly the business sector, to ensure its success.

 

However, despite the good initiatives to assist the offspring of our fallen men and women in blue, no amount of funds or initiatives can bring back our beloved family members, colleagues and friends. We will always hold them dearly and closely to our hearts.

 

Members of the SAPS gathered here today, carry the baton forward with pride, diligence and vigour.

We shall console ourselves with the memories of our loved ones' sterling contributions to their families and to this country, for they played a pivotal role in protecting our people and our democracy.

 

Thank you one and all for your attendance here today. We find solace and comfort in your presence.

 

Thank you.

GENERAL RIAH PHIYEGA