Mayor Mashaba pays tribute to slain cop

19 February 2018

 

Family, colleagues and friends, some with tears in their eyes, shared their memories of Azwinndini David Ratshikhopha, a JMPD officer who was shot as he tried to stop a hijacking. 

 

Ratshikhopha was described as a hero.

It was through his dedication towards his job that he paid with his life, speakers said during a memorial service held at JMPD Academy last week.

A visibly touched Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, Cllr Herman Mashaba was among dignitaries who attended Ratshikhopha’s memorial service together with Cllr Vasco da Gama, the Speaker of the Council, Cllr Michael Sun, the Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Public Safety, Cllr Mpho Phalatse, the MMC for Health and Social, David Tembe, JMPD’s Chief of Police and Gauteng SAPS Commissioner General Deliwe de Lange.

Ratshikhopha died at Milpark Hospital on Wednesday, 14 February 2018. The 47-year-old officer was wounded while trying to intervene when a minibus taxi was being hijacked in Booysens, Johannesburg, on Tuesday, 13 February 2018. He will be buried on Saturday, 24 February 2018, in Venda, Limpopo.

“The suspects shot at him about five times and one bullet hit the side of his head. No arrests have been made as yet. I strongly condemn the killing and every effort will be made to apprehend the suspects,” said Chief Tembe.

General De Lange said: “How many times must we say the loss of an officer is one too many. Ratshikhopha has touched the lives of different people in different ways. Not only did the JMPD lose a dedicated and committed person, but the whole Gauteng has lost a warrior. Let us all continue the fight that he has left behind of fighting crime.”

Mayor Mashaba said: “One of the duty I have and most difficult one is receiving and acting on the news of a colleague who has being killed in the line of duty. Nothing breaks my heart than meeting the families of those who have lost their dearest loved ones, my deepest condolences to the family of Azwindini David Ratshikhopha.

“Officer Ratshikhopha was a father, husband, uncle, brother and a colleague. His life was taken away by merciless criminals and I’m angered that I have to be here under these circumstances,” said Mayor Mashaba.

“Just two weeks ago, we had to bid a sad farewell to two officers who were killed by an allegedly drunken motorist. It’s not a secret that many of our officers carry out their duties in very dangerous circumstances, often up against monsters that care little about innocent lives. I wish to take this opportunity to share my sincere condolences with you all but also express my gratitude to every officer in the JMPD for the work you do. You fearlessness and bravery gives us courage to take one more step to the future, irrespective of the challenges,” said Mayor Mashaba. 

Another JMPD official died on the same day of Ratshikhopha’s memorial on Friday. Forty-seven-year-old Alfred Legodi Molomo, a part-time Traffic Warden, who was off duty and in civilian clothes, was shot in the arm and chest when he tried to intervene during an armed robbery near Busy Corner in Ivory Park. He died on the scene.