A wreath-laying ceremony was attended by relatives of some of the staff members who have died in the line of duty and during the Covid-19 pandemic on Saturday, 6 August 2022.

The City of Cape Town’s annual Remembrance Day service is held in honour of fallen staff members across the enforcement and emergency services.

‘Every day the courageous women and men of the City of Cape Town’s Metro Police Department, Law Enforcement, Traffic Services and Fire Services put on their uniforms and badges, and go out to protect us and our communities in every part of the city. We know that sometimes their duty calls on them to place themselves in harm’s way and pay a solemn tribute to those who have given their lives in service of the residents of Cape Town. To all of the family members of our Officers, I wish to share a special expression of gratitude to you who care for your partners and support them in their work,’ said Cape Town Mayor, Geordin Hill-Lewis.

The inaugural event was hosted in 2017, when the Safety and Security Directorate’s memorial wall at the Cape Town Civic Centre was first unveiled.

The memorial features five silhouettes representing the departments within the Safety and Security Directorate: Metro Police, Traffic Services, Law Enforcement, the Fire and Rescue Service, and Disaster Risk Management – along with a list of names of those in whose memory it has been erected.

It contains the names of 36 staff members who have died in the line of duty, and 26 who succumbed to Covid-19.

‘We have thousands of staff members who devote themselves to the safety of others, day after day, often under very difficult circumstances. The service members we have lost in the line of duty bears testament to the risks that our staff face and take in the interest of public safety. The installation of the memorial wall and the annual Remembrance Service are tokens of our deep appreciation for the men and women who don the uniform, in spite of the risks, and to ensure that we never forget the sacrifices made by those who died in service of Cape Town.

‘We owe them an enormous debt of gratitude for their commitment and dedication. To their loved ones, and to us as colleagues, many of whom are still struggling with the loss, I want to ask that we keep honouring their legacy,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.

Source: City Of Cape Town