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A police detective was stabbed to death in Makhado, Limpopo, two days before Police Minister Fikile Mbalula released the annual crime statistics in Parliament, proving that members of the South African Police Service were not immune from the spate of murders affecting the country.
The police are expected to ensure the safety and protection of citizens, yet they too fall prey to murderers.
Between January 1 to October 25 this year, 62 police officers were murdered in the country.
Of the 62 deaths, 28 were on duty cops and 34 were off-duty, according to Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo.
Warrant Officer Andrew Nthabeleni Mudau (59) from the SAPS Makhado Unit in Limpopo was stabbed to death while on duty on Sunday.
The man suspected to have killed Mudua appeared in court on Tuesday – the very day Mbalula released the crime stats in Parliament where he revealed that the number of reported murders for the 2016/17 period had gone up.
He said that in 2016/2017, the police recorded a total of 19 016 murders, up from 18 673 in 2015/16 – an increase of 1.8%.
Mudau was allegedly murdered while he and his colleagues were apprehending a suspect following a report of theft from a motor vehicle and assault.
The police found the suspect in a house in Makhado.
The man became violent when the officers attempted to arrest him and stabbed Mudau during the scuffle. The detective later died in hospital.
Mudau served the SAPS for over 30 years.
The suspect arrested for his murder was remanded in custody without bail until November 1.
During Mudau’s memorial service this week, police cluster commander Brigadier Eddie van der Walt described him as a “fallen hero who, over the years, contributed fully to the country’s ideals and values wherein all citizens are and feel safe”.
“Duty, decency, reliability, honour, dignity and respect are all qualities that Mudau not only held in high esteem but practised every day during his time with us until his final hour,” Van der Walt said.
