In a poignant tribute leading up to the annual SAPS National Commemoration Day, the Service will solemnly remember 39 of its members who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty between April 1, 2023, and March 31, 2024. On Monday, the SAPS paid tribute to one of the Northern Cape’s fallen heroes, Sergeant Kediemetse Masilo, who was attached to the Kimberley Flying Squad.
IN A POIGNANT tribute leading up to the annual South African Police Service (SAPS) National Commemoration Day, the Service will solemnly remember 39 of its members who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty between April 1, 2023, and March 31, 2024.
National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said that the annual commemoration day will take place on Sunday, September 1. The event serves as a moving reminder of the risks faced by law enforcement officers while safeguarding their communities.
On Monday, the SAPS paid tribute to one of the Northern Cape’s fallen heroes, Sergeant Kediemetse Masilo. With an impressive 16 years of service, Sergeant Masilo was attached to the Kimberley Flying Squad.
Tragically, on August 22, 2023, while pursuing a suspect involved in a stolen vehicle case, Sergeant Masilo and her partner were disarmed by the perpetrator. In a heart-wrenching turn of events, the suspect shot and killed them both.
The loss of this dedicated officer reverberated throughout the community and the entire SAPS.
The suspect arrested for this heinous act, 38-year-old Daniel Alberts, is no stranger to law enforcement. According to police records, Alberts is a repeat offender. He was swiftly apprehended on the same day and remains in police custody.
Alberts now faces serious charges, including two counts of murder, three counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances, and one count of motor vehicle theft. The Kimberley Magistrate’s Court will preside over this case, seeking justice for Sergeant Masilo and her fallen colleague.
Sergeant Masilo leaves behind her partner and two children, who mourn her loss deeply. To honour her memory and bravery, her name will be engraved on the SAPS’s National Memorial Wall in Pretoria.
“To Sergeant Masilo, your name will be engraved on the SAPS’s National Memorial Wall at the Union Buildings on Sunday, September 1, 2024, to eternalise your unforgettable memory and signify the gratitude of the nation for your bravery, loyalty and the sacrifices you made to serve and protect the people of South Africa,” said Mathe.
“May your soul continue to rest in peace.”
