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 Constable Asive Xolela Dudumayo who died on 02 July 2023. The 30-year-old member was attached to Bityi police station in the OR Tambo District, in the Eastern Cape Province and had 5 years of service in the organisation at the time of his passing.

On 03 July 2023, the member along with his crew where conducting crime prevention duties when they spotted a suspicious vehicle and stopped it. As they began to search the vehicle, two suspects ran away while two police officers restrained the other two suspects.

While pursuing the other two suspects, Constable Dudumayo was shot and sustained multiple gunshot wounds. The member was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital for medical care where he succumbed to his injuries on arrival at the hospital.

Three suspects were arrested and have already appeared before the Bityi Magistrates’ Court facing charges of murder, possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

He leaves behind his three year old child at the time of his passing

Constable Dudumayo’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 Constable Dudumayo, the SAPS flag does not fly because the wind blows it: it is flying 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