Johannesburg - The protection of police officials is of concern following the murder of a senior Johannesburg officer, the Congress of the People said on Wednesday.
Cope expressed its sadness over the murder of Johannesburg cluster commander Maj-Gen Tirhani Maswanganyi, Gauteng leader in the province Hermène Koorts said in a statement.
“Maj-Gen Maswanganyi was a dedicated officer and his death is indeed a sad loss for the SA Police Service and for our country. We are concerned by the protection of hard-working policemen and women who risk their lives to serve our communities.”
Earlier, the Freedom Front Plus said criminals had no fear of law enforcement agencies.
“The murderers clearly, regardless of the motive, have no fear of law enforcement or prosecution,” FF Plus leader in the province Jaco Mulder said in a statement on Tuesday evening.
The established criminal culture in South Africa had progressed to taunting the authorities.
The 52-year-old policeman's body was found in a field near Hammanskraal, north of Pretoria, near the R101 road, on Tuesday morning, police said. His Isuzu bakkie was parked nearby.
His family told investigators he left home for work shortly after 2pm on Monday.
Gauteng commissioner Lt-Gen Mzwandile Petros said:
“Approximately 3am this morning (Tuesday), the body of the officer was found in a bushy area next to the road. His hands and feet were tied up”.
Police were waiting for a post mortem report on the cause of death. Petros said there were no gunshot wounds to the body.
On Tuesday, premier Nomvula Mokonyane said Maswanganyi's death was a blow to Gauteng's war against crime. He had been in the police for 31 years.
The SA Police Union (Sapu) also condemned Maswanganyi's death.
“We want to condemn with the strongest terms possible the senseless murder of this top cop,” said Sapu general secretary Oscar Skommere.
“His cold-blooded murder has robbed the SAPS, as he was one of a few career officers who have dedicated their lives 1/8to 3/8 the fight against crime in our society.”
The Democratic Alliance extended its condolences to Maswanganyi's family, friends, and colleagues.
“By all accounts he was a dedicated policeman who keenly felt the need to make a difference in the fight against crime,” DA MPL Kate Lorimer said in a statement.
Petros said a team of detectives under the leadership of the deputy provincial commissioner for detective services, Maj-Gen Tebello Mosikili, and investigators from the provincial investigation unit and organised crime would investigate the murder. - Sapa