‘Attacking police is attacking the State’: Ramaphosa honours 12 fallen officers

President Cyril Ramaphosa hailed twelve police officers who tragically lost their lives during the 2025/26 financial year, remembering them not as mere statistics, but as individuals who upheld the integrity of the State, the rule of law, and the constitutional order. Speaking at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, Ramaphosa emphasized that criminals who target police officers are attacking the nation's core values.

Nine of the fallen officers were from Gauteng, with one death each in North West, KwaZulu-Natal, and Mpumalanga. Ramaphosa highlighted that the circumstances surrounding these deaths were troubling, with several officers killed while on duty, responding to complaints, or transporting prisoners. He called for communities to report threats, protect information, and reject criminality, stressing that police safety is a shared responsibility between government, law enforcement, and communities.

Ramaphosa addressed the decline in police fatalities over the past few years, attributing it to various interventions, safety initiatives, community partnerships, and collaboration between government and the private sector. However, he reiterated that even one life lost is one too many. The SAPS has implemented a Police Safety Action Plan, but Ramaphosa stressed that policing alone cannot solve the threat faced by officers.

He acknowledged the ongoing scrutiny from the Judicial Commission of Inquiry and urged the SAPS to focus on crime prevention, combating criminality, and community protection. Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia emphasized that the commemoration is about honoring the officers who served and sacrificed their lives. The government's commitment extends beyond funerals, providing continued support through benefits, counselling, welfare, and educational opportunities for the children of fallen officers.