Johannesburg -
The death of the police inspectorate's divisional commissioner Lt-Gen Layton Mzondeki (Sean) Tshabalala came as a shock, Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa said on Friday.
“I wish to extend my heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the late General Tshabalala. His sudden passing has left us in shock and we pray for strength to the Tshabalala family during this difficult period,” the minister said in a statement.
“He was one of our dedicated and senior officers who served the SAPS with excellence. May his soul rest in peace. He will be sorely missed.”
Tshabalala, 47, was found dead in his office at police headquarters in Pretoria on Tuesday. Police at the time said he died on Monday night. An investigation has been launched into his death. According to Beeld newspaper the possibility that he committed suicide was being investigated.
“What becomes important to all of us as members of the SAPS is to ensure that we continue to carry through the conviction that General Tshabalala stood for,” Mthethwa said.
Tshabalala joined the police service on April 1, 1994 during the joining of the statutory and non-statutory forces.
He held the ranks of lieutenant and captain while attached to the presidential unit between 1994 and 1996 and was responsible for the operational security planning of that unit.
In 2000, he was appointed head of major events planning with the rank of superintendent (now lieutenant colonel), and in 2001 he was appointed to the rank of director (now brigadier) in the police's former VIP protection and static protection unit.
In 2002 he was appointed divisional commissioner of protection and security services, and in 2010 he was appointed the divisional commissioner of technology management services.
In 2012, Tshabalala was appointed the inspectorate's divisional commissioner. - Sapa