Career police officer Tsietsi Hendrik Monene died after being attacked by strikers at Lonmin mine. He had gashes all over his face and body, as well as two holes in his chest.
Monene, a warrant officer with 21 years experience, was connected to the Mpumalanga Public Order Policing Unit.
His unnamed cousin – who spoke at the funeral of Warrant Officer Sello Lepaaku, who was killed with Monene – said he had been told by a police officer that Monene died because his colleagues had been too far away to help him.
“A policeman who was in the Nyala [that was with Monene’s group] told me he had to fight to keep the door of the vehicle closed because they [the strikers] wanted to come in and kill him too,” The Star newspaper reported the cousin as saying.
Monene leaves behind five children – aged between 12 and 23 – and a grandson. He is also survived by his wife, who is also a police officer, his mother, a brother and a sister. – Nicki Gules
Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Your service to your country is appreciated, you will be missed. Thank you sir, I salute you.