SAPS to honour 12 officers killed in line of duty
Twelve South African Police Service (SAPS) officers who died in the line of duty will be honoured at the annual Police Commemoration Day at the Union Buildings in Pretoria today, Sunday.
President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to officiate at the 10am ceremony at the SAPS Memorial Site, where the names of the 12 officers who died between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026 will be commemorated.
The number of officers being honoured has declined from 27 in the previous reporting period. Acting National Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Puleng Dimpane said the decline was encouraging, but noted that eight of the 12 officers came from Gauteng, highlighting the need to review policing strategies in the province.
Among those being remembered are Warrant Officer Vuyisile Rodney Sintwa and Sergeant Simon Sentsho Masenye, both stationed at Florida Police Station in Gauteng.
The two officers were killed on 8 August 2025 while transporting awaiting-trial prisoner and fugitive Jabulani Thabang Moyo from court back to prison. They were ambushed in Roodepoort, disarmed and shot. Moyo allegedly fled in the police vehicle, which was later found abandoned.
Moyo remains at large, with SAPS offering a R150,000 reward for information that could lead to his arrest.
The annual commemoration honours SAPS members who lost their lives while serving the public and provides an opportunity for their families, colleagues and the country to remember their sacrifice.
