Programme Director
The Family, Relatives and Friends of Lt-Col Mokabane
Lieutenant-General Amon Mashigo and SAPS Management
Traditional Leaders
Representatives of the ANC and Alliance Partners
Ladies and gentlemen
Comrades and friends
On 8 July 2011 we attended the National Summit Against Police Killings convened by the Minister of Police Mr Nathi Mthethwa in Boksburg, Gauteng. The summit came as a result of the rising number of police killings in the country. The police killings were rising to frightening highs and action had to be taken.
The 8 July summit was the beginning of the steps that government is taking to ensure the safety and security of our police men and women. That government is serious about the safety and security of the police can be measured against what the Minister said before and at the summit.
Allow me to quote from Minister Mthethwa after announcing that the national department of police would hold a national summit against the killing of police:
"There is a war out there, which by the way has been declared by criminals on society and the police."
Speaking at the summit he continued on the same theme of commitment by saying:
"The recent killing of members of the law-enforcement agencies, especially the police is a direct threat to our hard-won constitutional democracy; a threat that should not be taken lightly."
Minister Mthethwa`s words represent the thinking of our government, and the people of South Africa in general. It was because we see the killing of our policemen and women as an attack on our democracy that a National Summit Against Police Killing was called.
Many decisions came out of the Summit to guide the nation on what can be done to defend our police, our society and our democracy. Central to winning the fight against the evil of crime and those who kill the police is the people – you and me.
The fight against criminals and the killers of the police starts with us. What are we prepared to do to save our democracy, to secure the future of our children in which everyone can go about their business without fear of crime and criminals.
Criminals and killers of the police will continue with their work of Satan if we allow them, or even help them in the evil that they do.
We are gathered here today because of the evil hand that took the life of one of us. This is not an ordinary cheap life that we are burying today – he was a Lieutenant-Colonel. You can imagine how long he took to reach that rank, you can imagine how much it cost government in terms of time and money to attain the rank. All this experience, expertise and investment is today gone – just like that!
It is all gone because of the evil hand that took away his life, and with it everything that Lt—Col Mokabane could have done in his life time – for his family and his nation.
Are we going to allow these evil men to continue to take our loved ones as they wish? Are we going to keep quite even when we know these killer? You keep quite today because they did not come for you. The day will come when they come for you and there will be no one to speak out against these evil people.
The time to speak out against criminals and the killers of the police is now. The time for action against criminals and the killers of the police is now! Let us kick out criminals and killers of the police from our homes and villagers. We cannot live side by side with evil.
I am a little happy that the police have made some breakthroughs, some suspects have been arrested. I call on the police to be thorough in their investigations – we don`t want any mistakes on this one. The least we can do for our fallen comrade is to ensure that justice is done.
Talking of justice – a strong message must be sent to police killers or would be killers that you don’t mess with our police. We are calling for maximum sentences on the perpetrator or perpetrators. We can't be soft on those who undermine our democracy and our freedom. They must feel all the might of the law – by rotting in jail.
To the family of Lt-Mokabane, I bring the condolences of the provincial government led by Premier Cassel Mathele. He is equally touched by your loss, it is also a loss for all of us who looked for more service from him and his colleagues who are the defenders of our freedom and democracy.
May his soul rest in peace.
I thank you.
