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Image of commerative ribbon against police killings.
Western Cape Police Commissioner Tembisile Patekile has expressed concern about the increasing number of officers being killed in the line of duty.
This comes after two suspects gunned down a 32-year-old Constable from Mfuleni while responding to a robbery in the area.
Patekile says the situation is worrying.
“It worries us because the ones I’m told up to now are five… that already died. The one was in Port Elizabeth, and two in Free State and another one again in Free State this weekend. Now this one is the fifth one. It’s a worrying one and it’s all Constables, upcoming young ones that should be taking over this country as we retire.”
Early this year the Gelvandale community in Gqeberha marched against police killings. This follows the tragic shooting of 29-year-old Constable Callan Andrews and the robbery of his service pistol.
Related video, Popcru reacts to police killings in Gqeberha, Qwaqwa:
In 2024 the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) said Police Minister Senzo Mchunu should prioritise dealing with police killings.
Popcru said that the number of police officers being killed in the line of duty seems to be growing steadily on an annual basis, without any intervention.
