Durban — Constable Nozipho Zuma and Sergeant Steven Madondo who were killed in two separate road accidents in KwaZulu-Natal will be honoured next month during the SAPS Commemoration Day.
On September 1, the 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.
SAPS national spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said Zuma, 38, was attached to the Bellair police station.
“On January 17, the member died after she was struck by a truck that ploughed into an accident scene on the M7 Highway near the N2. The tragic incident happened, while the member along with her colleague including metro police were attending to an accident scene and were diverting traffic when she was struck by a speeding truck on the M7 Highway. Constable Zuma sustained fatal injuries and she was declared deceased on the scene of the accident,” Mathe said.
She said a culpable homicide case was registered and an investigation is still ongoing.
She leaves two children, the youngest was nine when Zuma died.
Nhlanhla Dlamini said Zuma was the mother of his children and his life partner. They had been together since 2007.
“She loved her work so much that she started as a police reservist. Although she was a reservist, she went to work every day. She didn’t miss work.
“When she was hired permanently in the police force, she showed she loved her work.”
Dlamini said the police were very helpful when Zuma died. On the day she died, they went to their home and explained to them what happened.
“If we needed to be somewhere, they would help us, until her burial. They also helped when we asked for a State funeral, they played a huge part in helping us with that.”
Zuma’s colleague, Constable Noxolo Mthimkhulu said ever since she met Zuma, she wasn’t difficult to be familiar with.
“One thing I noticed about her is that she was a hard worker. She was always willing to learn. She was even friendly to community members at the CSC (community service centre),” Mthimkhulu said.
“She loved her job; she was dedicated, and that’s the kind of person she was.”
Meanwhile, SAPS paid tribute to Sergeant Madondo, 42, who died on June 25 last year.
Madondo worked at Ixopo SAPS and had 17 years of service when he died.
Madondo was responding to an accident scene between two vehicles on the R56 in Ixopo when a third speeding vehicle struck him. He died at the scene.
He left his wife and three children, the youngest being six when he died.
Constable Zuma and Sergeant Madondo’s names will be engraved on the SAPS memorial wall at the Union Buildings on September 1, as a symbol of gratitude from the nation for the sacrifices they made in serving and protecting the people of this country.
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Daily News