Cops 'had to do what they had to do'
2006-06-29 12:06
Johannesburg - The four policemen slain in Sunday's shoot-out in Jeppestown, Johannesburg were praised at a memorial service on Thursday.
"I want to thank Gert (Inspector Johannes Schoeman) and his colleagues who sacrificed their lives and paid a price to purchase hope for us," said Superintendent Vermaak of the et rand emergency services.
Vermaak, who paused and wept during his speech, praised Schoeman for his bravery and commitment to his job.
"He responded knowing the risk, he had to do what he had to do."
Shcoeman and three other officers were killed during a bloody siege in Jeppestown on Sunday.
The bloody clash erupted when police probing a robbery at Pick 'n Pay in Honeydew on Sunday morning were led to the house where the gang was allegedly to rendezvous - by a person arrested on the scene.
Other slain policemen have been named as: Inspectors Frederick "Frikkie" van Heerden, 32, and Nzama Victor Mathye, 49, both of the West Rand dog unit; and Constable Peter Francois Seaward, 31, of the Johannesburg dog unit.
On Thursday, hundreds of emotional mourners gathered at the Little Falls Christian Centre on the West Rand for the slain officers' memorial service.
Two overwhelmed women, one of them a relative of Inspector Mathye, had to be assisted after experiencing breathing problems.
Also attending the service were Gauteng police commissioner Perumal Naidoo and top detective Piet Byleveld.
Eleven people have since appeared in Roodepoort magistrate's court on initial charges related to the robbery and the deaths.
Eight others linked to the siege were killed together with the officers on Sunday.
- SAPA