Cele: Pain of police deaths ‘goes beyond numbers’
Police Minister Bheki Cele says the deaths of the 34 officers who died in the line of duty this year cannot be in vain.
Cele was speaking at a remembrance ceremony for fallen police officers at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Sunday.
He said a total of 852 police officers and staff have succumbed to Covid- related complications since the start of the pandemic last year.
“The reality is that, to us, the pain goes beyond the numbers. It cuts deep when we see empty desks in the workplace when we see a reduced number of members on parade when we see police stations with a severe shortage of members.
“But the pain cuts even more deeply to the parents, the spouses, children and families of our fallen men and women in blue because of the sudden and untimely departure of their loved ones,” said Cele.
“Their loss should remind us all as a nation, the importance of community policing partnerships. It is clear citizens can no longer afford to be bystanders in their communities.
“Each day we all should work better at being active citizens.”
