Slain cop has a hero’s send-off

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MINISTER of Police, Fikile Mbalula has urged the people of Manguzi to honour the memory of slain cop Warrant Officer Sipho Mthethwa by obeying and respecting the law.

Mbalula was speaking at the funeral service of Warrant Officer Mthethwa who was laid to rest at Manguzi town this past weekend.

Mthethwa was gunned down in Vosloorus in Johannesburg earlier this month.

According to reports, Mthethwa and other police officers were patrolling in the area when they spotted a vehicle with a fake licence plate.

One of the suspects allegedly opened fire, killing him on the spot.

‘We are here to pay our last respects and honour the courageous work of Warrant Officer Mthethwa.

‘Officer Mthethwa was not a coward, he was a brave man. He was shot in the line of duty by criminals. He died while protecting the people of South Africa.

‘He was a trustworthy man and people spoke very highly of him. He was a man of the law. He was not a rich man and very humble,’ Mbalula said at the funeral service.

Mbalula thanked the family of Officer Mthethwa for allowing him to serve.

‘In his honour, we will continue to fight crime. To the servicemen he served with, let’s continue to work hard in protecting all our people from criminality.

Mbalula also spoke out against police officers ‘who destroyed the police station in Manguzi’.

‘We will build a better police station than the one you have currently, with trustworthy police officers,’ Mbalula said.

Mbalula lashed out at police officers who had been arrested for alleged involvement in cross border crimes.

Seven vehicles have been recovered since April 2017 and three police officers were arrested in Kosi Bay.

These arrests brought to 14, the number of police arrested through their involvement in nefarious activities along the borders.

Last month MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison Mxolisi Kaunda said the opening of KwaSkhemelele satellite station will improve policing in the corridor between Mhlabuyalingana and Manguzi.

This is in addition to a R90-million upgrade of the Manguzi police station.