The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) in Gauteng says it is deeply shocked and outraged by the brutal murder of two police officers in Roodepoort.
The members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) Trio Task Team were shot and killed in Roodepoort while transporting a suspect from court on Friday morning, 8 August.
TWO POLICE OFFICERS SHOT DEAD BY A PRISONER IN ROODEPOORT
Police said preliminary reports indicate that at approximately 10:30 on Friday morning, two police officers were in transit with a suspect identified as Jabulani Moyo, who had earlier appeared in the Roodepoort court on an armed robbery case.
Police said the two officers, a Sergeant and a Warrant Officer, were transporting Moyo back to prison after his appearance at the Roodepoort Magistrate’s Court on a case of business robbery that occurred in February 2023.
“While in Roodepoort CBD, they came under fire and were disarmed. The Sergeant was declared dead at the scene, while the Warrant Officer was transported to hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival.”
According to popcru, video footage from the BP petrol station shows the suspect, identified as Jabulani Moyo, fleeing the scene in the state vehicle. The vehicle was later recovered abandoned in Onslow Street, Horizon, Roodepoort.
The police union said these murders are not just an attack on our members but an attack on the very fabric of law enforcement and public safety in our communities. The cold-blooded killing of officers in the line of duty underscores the extreme risks faced daily by police officers and highlights the urgent need for stronger measures to protect them.
Popcru provincial secretary in Gauteng Lerata Motsiri said the two police officers were not just SAPS members; they were dedicated public servants committed to fighting crime and making our streets safer. Their loss will be deeply felt by all who knew and worked with them.
The murder of the two detectives comes at a time when the SAPS is preparing to honour 27 police officers who died in the line of duty in the last financial year. The SAPS Commemoration Day is an annual event that takes place on the first Sunday of September each year.
CALL FOR SAPS TO REVIEW OPERATIONAL PROTOCOLS FOR PRISONER TRANSPORT
Motisiri also called on the SAPS management to urgently review operational protocols for prisoner transport, ensuring that suspects are properly restrained and that officers are provided with adequate backup, particularly in high-risk cases.
“We also demand that the suspect responsible for these heinous acts be apprehended swiftly and face the full might of the law.
“POPCRU Gauteng will be engaging with the affected stations to provide support to colleagues and the bereaved families, while continuing to advocate for improved safety measures for all police officials,” she said.
FOLLOWING THE MURDER OF TWO POLICE OFFICERS, DO YOU THINK THE SAPS AND CORRECTIONAL SERVICES SHOULD MAKE CHANGES TO THE PROTOCOLS FOR PRISONER TRANSPORT?
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1.
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