Durban - President Cyril Ramaphosa says no society can remain silent when criminals have clearly declared war on the police following the recent deaths of police officers in the line of duty.
He was speaking at the annual SAPS National Commemoration Day yesterday where police officers who were killed while serving the country were remembered and honoured.
Ramaphosa said 33 police officers had died between April 2021 and March 2022.
Ramaphosa said this National Commemoration Day should serve not only to pay tribute to the fallen men and women in blue who lost their lives in the fight against crime.
“It should also serve to mobilise society against the killing of our officers.”
Ramaphosa said it was important that Community Policing Forums work so that communities can appreciate the critical role they play by working with the police and by reporting criminals who live among us.
The commemoration event comes after Constable Andile Bongani Magwaza was killed and another officer was injured last week in uMlazi.
Magwaza was a 31-year-old police officer from Ulundi with just three years of service under his belt and was stationed at uMlazi Police Station.
Preliminary reports state that the suspects randomly opened fire at police while they were on duty at Mega City at around 8pm, killing one officer and wounding another. Police recovered five 9mm spent cartridges on the scene.
The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) said they were saddened by Magwaza’s murder.
Popcru provincial secretary Nthabeleng Molefe said said the province has become a hotspot for police killings and attacks on officers.
She said the union would like to see a unit dedicated to investigating police killings.
“We only see the government at the funerals and they make promises and it ends there. We call for an indaba where interventions can be discussed.”
KZN MEC for Transport, Community safety and Liaison, Sipho Hlomuka, has appealed to the SAPS for the speedy arrest of the suspects.
Hawks spokesperson in KZN, Simphiwe Mhlongo, said they are investigating the murder of Magwaza, however, no arrests have been made.