The National Police Commissioner, General Bheki Cele together with a group of senior police officers and close working colleagues today visited the families of the two slain policemen in Vosloorus on the East Rand.
Warrant Officers Lefu Petrus Mokoena (45) and Bhekuyise Mboneni Mahlalela (47) stopped to assist what they thought were motorists whose vehicle had broken down on the Old Heidelberg Road. Instead, they walked into a hail of bullets from hijackers. Gunmen got out of the vehicle and opened fire on the two officers without warning. One officer died at the scene and the other died later in hospital.
It has been almost every weekend that the National Commissioner and members of the police's top management attend funerals of murdered police officers. The General has expressed his concern that there seems to be no end to the cowardly slaying of our police officers.
To date fifty two (52) police officers have been killed in the country. "We provide as much comfort to the families as we possibly can. Our visit to them is to say that we care and we share their pain but I know our pain can never be compared to the pain they are going through," said General Bheki Cele.
The National Commissioner spent time with the spouse and children of the two Warrant Officers conveying his condolences and words of comfort. He has assured the families that everything humanly possible will be done to bring these killers to book. "I know that arresting the killers will be least we can do to bring comfort to the families, relatives and colleagues," added General Cele.
Enquiries:
Collonel Vishnu Naidoo
Cell: 082 567 4153
E-mail: naidoov@saps.org.za
Source: South African Police Service
