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 and 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 Captain Mawethu Mantshiyose who died on 21 November 2023. The 53-year-old member was attached to the Aliwal North, Public Order Policing (POP) within the Division Visible Policing and Operations and had 28 years of service in the organisation at the time of his passing.

On 21 November 2023, the member and his colleagues from the Pubic Order Policing were deployed to provide backup to an ongoing police operation to apprehend a violent wanted suspect in connection with an assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm case at a house in Ndungunya location.

Police announced their arrival at the said house
.

The suspect ran out of the house with a knife and spear in his hand. He stabbed Captain Mantshiyose on the back of his neck and sustained serious injuries. When the member fell, and as the suspect re-advanced towards him in an attempt to stab him again, he was then fatally shot and died on the scene.

The member was taken to the nearest clinic for treatment where he succumbed to his injuries. He was declared deceased at the clinic.

He leaves behind his wife and two children.

Captain Mantshiyose’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 Captain Mantshiyose, 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.

Source: South African Police Service