The two police officers who was shot and killed on Tuesday, 22 August, in Kimberley, held 16 years and 11 years service in the South African Police Service (SAPS) respectively.
The 45-year-old Sgt Kedimetse Masilo and 35-year-old Const. Okaetse Mandindi were both attached to the Kimberley Flying Squad. They were tracing a hired sedan that was allegedly stolen and enroute from Bloemfontein, when they were fatally shot by its driver.
Masilo joined the police service in 2007 and had 16 years service at the time of her death, while Mandindi joined the service in 2012 and at the time of his death had been serving for 11 years.
The national commissioner of the SAPS, Gen. Fannie Masemola, has commended police for the swift arrest of the 38-year-old suspect. Masemola says the organisation will ensure justice prevails for their families, friends and colleagues.
“The killing of these members happens a week before the commemoration of 34 members who died in the line of duty in the 2022-’23 financial year. We will work hard to secure a water-tight case that will result in a lengthy conviction for this perpetrator,” said Masemola.
On Tuesday, after spotted the wanted vehicle in Kimberley, Masilo and Mandindi started following it, and it drove at a high speed into the Transnet yard at approximately 10:40, where the suspect crashed the vehicle and fled the scene on foot.
The members gave chase and were fired upon, which led to their fatal shooting.
The provincial commissioner, Lt. Gen. Koliswa Otola, activated and mobilised all police resources in search of the armed suspect who was fleeing the scene. The suspect was seen running in the direction of the Diamond Pavilion Mall. The mall was soon swarming with armed police members, but the suspect could not be found. He was later arrested outside Kimberley.
Otola is saddened and shocked by the fatal shooting of the two police members and conveyed her heartfelt condolences to the family, relatives, and colleagues of the two fallen members.
The suspect is expected to appear before the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, 24 August, on a number of charges including two counts of murder.
Union is disheartened
In a press release, the South African Policing Union (SAPU) in the Northern Cape, said the union is disheartened and in profound grief as they yet again mourn the tragic death of two on-duty police officials.
SAPU Northern Cape also stated that it is concerned about the increasing cases of robberies in Northern Cape shopping malls and public spaces.
“As SAPU we have been calling upon the government of the Republic to decisively and without fear declare and categorise the killing of police officials as treason, and a direct attack on the state,” provincial spokesperson Sabata Ephraim Tshabedi said.
SAPU further stated that it is concerned about lawlessness in the country, where criminals attack police officials with impunity and without fear of repercussions.
