The widow of a slain Gauteng policeman has urged citizens to acknowledge the dangers that officers face daily.
Joyce Sema was among families attending a provincial memorial service in Gauteng on Sunday morning.
Eight police officers who died in the line of duty between April last year and this year March were honoured.
The event follows a national commemoration last week, where President Cyril Ramaphosa acknowledged declining trust in the South African Police Service (SAPS).
But Sema insisted that there should be empathy for the men and women in blue who have dedicated their life to the service.
Her 41-year-old husband, Sergeant Sello Sema, was killed by suspects while responding to a business robbery last year.
“They are also human. They also have families. People should also consider it. Don’t just say because they’re police, maybe they should not take them seriously, maybe because they lost their lives. They should remember that they’re also human.”
Never miss a major story. Get breaking news and the latest developments from South Africa and beyond as they happen.
Karinda Jagmohan
www.ewn.co.za
