GUGULETHU station commander Brigadier Nokuthula Pete said cops are going through hard times living among their family and friends ekasi.
She said when she joined the police service, it was still during the apartheid era and cops were living in barracks.
Pete said when freedom came, the government allowed cops to live and mingle with civilians, but now their lives are in danger.
At an event in Gugulethu in Cape Town on Saturday, 7 October, Pete said police are being murdered for nothing.
“Police are living in hell. They're getting killed just for being police officers. Officers are not killed because they've done something wrong to anyone. Instead, they're being attacked merely for being cops,” she said.
In September alone, at least four cops were attacked and killed while off duty in the Cape Town townships. On Friday, 29 September, Warrant Officer Lindela Mraqisa was shot and killed while sitting inside his car with friends in Gugulethu.
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Another officer was also shot and killed on Sunday, 17 September while he was sitting inside his car with a friend in the Site B, Khayelitsha.
Two officers were shot, one died, and the other was injured in Eland Street, Samora Machel, on Friday, 22 September.
Pete said when the democratic dispensation arrived in 1994, cops were moved from barracks and became part of the communities because “they're our children,” and nobody thought they'd be under attack.
She said now the community policing forum (CPF) members are also under attack for their work.
