Durban - Warrant officer Jabulani Didi, 54, was a humble man who was always laughing, his nephew, Africa Didi, said yesterday.
“He loved his family and his community and he loved his job,” Africa said.
“There were many times when he missed family functions because he was working.”
Africa was speaking from their Yellowwood Park home, where a large contingent of KwaZulu-Natal’s top brass - including generals, brigadiers and senior officers - visited the family to pay their respects.
Didi, who enjoyed nature and spent much of his spare time in his garden, was killed in the line of duty earlier this week. He leaves his four children and his wife, who is also a police officer.
Police spokesman, Brigadier Jay Naicker, said police were investigating allegations that the shooting which Didi and his partner were responding to when he was killed - and which also saw a security guard being shot dead - was linked to recent strikes in the the private security industry.
Didi was patrolling with his partner when they received a report of a murder at U-section, Umlazi.
On arriving at the scene, they were informed a security guard had been killed. They followed up on information given to them, including a description of the suspect and the direction in which he had fled.
While close to Isipingo Primary School, they spotted the suspect who allegedly opened fire on them. Didi was shot and died instantly. The suspect fled and is still on the run.
The Hawks are investigating.
Daily News