SLAIN Constable Siyabonga Thango was brave, caring and dedicated to the job.
This is how his colleagues described him at a memorial service held at the Christ Ambassador Church in Vosloorus, Ekurhuleni, on Thursday, 27 July.
Speaker after speaker said he was gone too soon.
They said the family, colleagues and the community had lost a brave cop.
Thango was shot and later died at the hospital on Sunday, 23 July, when there was a shootout between robbers and cops in Vosloorus, Ekurhuleni.
Colleagues, family, and friends gathered in numbers to share fond memories and remember the slain cop.
Constable Gabriel Van Westhuizen said he met Thango at the police college in Pretoria in 2018.
“Thango was a humble person. We trained together. I have never met a humble soul with respect and dedication like my brother here.
“In difficult times, he would always be smiling. When he saw that someone had a problem, he would draw the person closer and encourage that person to be happy and enjoy life.
ALSO READ: Cop's death leaves UMNDENI in pain!
He thanked the Thango family for allowing him to train as a police officer.
“We were able to serve and protect the community. We are not thanked enough for that. On behalf of the training group of 2018, especially the Pretoria SAPs training college, we want to thank you for letting him be a part of us. He will forever be a part of us,” Van Westhuizen said.
Lieutenant Colonel Moiponi Mokoena said Thango served the community honestly and loved his job.
“He followed the instructions of his superiors, and without being followed, he would do his duties," Moiponi said.
Vosloorus Police Station acting station commander, Paul Mathebula, said they worked very closely with Thango and his colleagues on Fridays and Saturdays.
“We have lost one of our own, but we have to continue with our duties. Thango would have loved for us to comfort ourselves and continue fighting crime," Mathebula said.
Sergeant Patrick Mthethwa, who worked closely with Thango during their shift, fondly characterised him as brave, passionate and dedicated to his work.
“When he was around, there was never a dull moment. He was a talkative person," Mthethwa said.
He said the family is not alone because the colleagues and the entire community have lost an officer who loved his job.
“But when it comes to work, he was always focused and encouraged us to keep the community first and ensure we fight crime.
