The South African Police Union (SAPU), representing a membership in excess of 75 000 dedicated officers of the South African Police Services (SAPS), dips its banner in great sorrow for the senseless loss of life at the hands of police officers over on Monday, 3 April and Wednesday, 5 April. Loss of life is always difficult to accept, but when that happens at the hands of those that society looks upon to protect them, then it is additionally regrettable and unacceptable.

We mourn the irrational loss of life of the five civilians who died in what will go sown in the history annals as the Kagiso killings, four of whom were killed at the hands of one in our ranks, Superintendent Chippa Mateane. We mourn the senseless deaths of our colleagues, Constable Diketso Shayi who was shot dead by her boyfriend Ernest Matlala, also a police officer, at their home in Highlands North in north-eastern Joburg yesterday. Constable Matlala, as has been widely reported, then turned the gun on himself.

We also mourn the police officers killed during the Kagiso killings by their Superintendent Mateane: Senior Superintendent MM Zondo, Captain TD Masipa, Captain JM Sokhela, and Captain Monama. We mourn the loss of Supreintedent Mateane’s life as well.

May the souls all twelve people rest in peace.

As the families of the deceased and society at large come to terms with these irrational events, it seems instructive that we should take time to reflect on where things may have gone wrong.

We agree with those that say the perception that police officers are expected to behave like tigers, cowboys and the like, has had seriously negative consequences for the service. Even though the SAPS, like all departments of state, has an Employee Assistance Programme, we find it unfortunate that an unacceptably small percentage of police officers make use of this service.

While this is not the time to apportion blame, we wish to appeal that coming out of this tragedy efforts should be multiplied not only to make these assistive programmes known and popular among members of the Service, but also efforts made to develop a human and humane face for the SAPS. The message should filter through that it is normal to experience the effects of post-traumatic stress as a consequence of the stressful work and working conditions under which police officers carry out their duties.

As the SAPU, we commit ourselves to work closely with the SAPS management and other stakeholders to make the service known to our members, and ensure that they relies there is no shame to be had from making use of it.

We call on the SAPS to tighten up its EAS Programme, including developing strict guidelines for all police stations dealing with when and under what circumstances officers should undergo debriefing sessions with psychiatrists, psychologists and other counselors. To this end, we wish to support the view that each time an officer had been exposed to traumatic events, including death of civilians or colleagues during law-enforcement activities, it should be compulsory that they undergo such debriefing.

While we cannot do anything to bring back the dearly departed, it is our wish and hope that out of the latest tragedy some positive outcome may result for us to take into the future.

Ends.

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