| 2024/08/26 |
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Media Statement
PRETORIA – The South African Police Service (SAPS) will host its annual Commemoration Day to honour and pay tribute to women and men in blue who died in the line of duty between April 2023 to March 2024. As a build up to the Commemoration Day that will be held at the Union Buildings on 01 September 2024, the SAPS will honour 39 members who died during this period. Today we pay tribute to our fallen hero, the late Sergeant Malesela Abel Kutu who died on 24 October 2023. The 43-year-old member was attached to the Ivory Park police station east of Johannesburg and had 17 years of service in the organisation at the time of his passing. On 24 October 2023, the member and his crew members were performing crime prevention and patrol duties within the Ivory Park policing precinct. They were approached by a complainant reporting an attempted carjacking incident. While following up on this report in Ebony Park, the member and his colleagues were ambushed by four armed suspects who opened fire at them. Sergeant Kutu was fatally shot and sustained gunshot wounds to his upper body and he was taken to Ebony hospital where he was certified deceased on arrival. He leaves behind his wife and three children, the youngest being one year old at the time of their father’s passing. Sergeant Kutu’s name and thirty eight others will be engraved on the SAPS memorial wall at the Union Buildings on the 1st of September 2024, as a symbol of gratitude from the nation for the sacrifices he made in serving and protecting the people of this country until his last breath. To Sergeant Kutu, the SAPS flag does not fly because the wind blows it: it flies with the last breath of every police officer who died defending it. May your soul continue to rest in peace. Ends
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