Cape Town - Noludwe Thanga was overcome with grief when describing the wedding plans she had made with her long-time boyfriend, Constable Mtheto Sandla, before he was shot dead while on duty during the early hours of Monday morning.
Sandla, 36, was killed in crossfire at a Caltex petrol station in Delft while responding to a robbery at around 3.20am.
Two gunmen wielding AK-47s fired at the constable and his partner. Several bullets found Sandla’s body while his partner was left injured and is recovering inhospital.
The gunmen fled with three accomplices who were waiting inside a shop at the petrol station. The criminals left their explosives behind with which they had intended to bomb the petrol station’s ATM, said the Hawks.
Sandla’s family gathered at his Philippi home to console his fiancée and three children, the youngest his four year-old son.
“We had our date set in December. I still cannot believe that he is gone. On Sunday morning, he left for work early like he normally did. I suspected something was wrong when his eldest brother and his colleagues arrived at my doorstep this morning. I knew that they usually do not come to your front door when nothing is wrong - that’s when I just broke down and cried,” said the 31-year-old woman.
The constable’s brother, Malibongwe Sandla, 46, said police broke the news to him around 5am, an hour before he could build up the courage to inform his brother’s fiancée of his death.
“It was already painful for me when they told me. I did not want to believe it was him, I could not because it was hard. I asked his colleagues to take me to the crime scene and to show me his body, his face so that I can be certain it was him. When I saw him lying there - he was on the floor behind the police van covered in a white sheet - I was hurt. He was there before my eyes. I just spoke to him on Saturday and now he is gone,” said Malibongwe.
Malibongwe described his brother as his “best friend”, a kind-hearted individual who would accept advice and would always lend an ear to those in need.
Sandla’s eldest son, Yamkelo Lugongono, 16, said: “My father - he taught me everything I know about life. He is the reason I grew up to be who I am. I will miss him dearly, there are no words to really describe how I feel.”
Funeral arrangements were not discussed as the family struggled to process their grief.
Hawks spokesman, Captain Lloyd Ramovha condemned the incident. “As demonstrated by the recent successful arrests of those implicated in police killings cases we shall not rest until we find those responsible. We are saying they can run, but they cannot hide. We further urge members of the community to expose and report those involved.”
Western Cape MEC for Community Safety Dan Plato extended his condolences to family, friends and colleagues.
Cape Argus