Police Minister, General Bheki Cele has learnt with shock of the death of three Tshwane Metro Police officers, killed in a head-on collision with a suspected drunk driver.
According to reports, in the early hours of Sunday morning 23 August 2020, a TMPD vehicle collided head-on with a suspected drunk driver who was evading the police in Pretoria West.
The three officers in the vehicle and the suspected drunk driver all died on the scene. A female passenger who was travelling with the alleged drunk driver is recovering in hospital.
Inside the vehicle, empty and full bottles of alcohol were found.
Minister Cele has sent his condolences to the families of the deceased members and at same time denounced the reckless behaviour that’s led to the senseless loss of life.
“The lives of these young officers were cut short by a man who chose to drink and act irresponsibly. While the alcohol ban has been lifted under Lockdown Level 2, it still remains the responsibility of those who consume alcohol to do so, without putting themselves and those around them in danger. If alcohol was consumed at home as per government’s directive, the loss of lives could have been avoided.
Cele has also reminded South Africans that a 22:00 curfew is still in place.
“While this incident is a great loss to the Metro Police department, police officers will continue in their numbers, to enforce the law and clamp down hard, especially on reckless behaviour brought on by alcohol abuse.” – Cele concluded.
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