Minister Mitchell honours heroic Provincial Uniformed Officers with wreath-laying ceremony
Media Release by Daylin Mitchell, Western Cape Minister of Mobility
Today, I joined Provincial Traffic Services and relatives of some of the fallen heroes to commemorate and honour our provincial uniformed officers who died in the line of duty with a wreath-laying ceremony.
The ceremony at the Gene Louw Traffic College in Brackenfell is probably the single most notable event on the Transport Month calendar. It is only fitting that the fallen heroes who contributed significantly towards safer transport, are remembered and honoured during national Transport Month.
These officers and men and women in blue heroically passed on in the line of duty. They paid the ultimate price while performing their daily duties to serve and protect our road users in the Western Cape.
The laying of wreaths is an integral part of many remembrance services and highlights the functional and commemorative roles our 18 officers have formed part of. Through this gesture, we could pay our respect to the fallen heroes who are husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, sons and daughters who made the final sacrifice for this Province.
So, other than paying our respect to our fallen colleagues today, we also acknowledge and recognise their family and loved ones who supported our heroes throughout their careers. The death of a loved one is a great burden to bear. I hope that this ceremony will bring you a little comfort as we honour them.
The construction of the Wall of Remembrance was specially built at the Gene Louw Traffic College, which is the cornerstone of the traffic fraternity, where most traffic officers within our province received their initial training. The fountain which flows continuously for 365 days a year is a symbolical part of the Wall of Remembrance and is a constant reminder of colleagues who have lost their lives while in the employ of Provincial Traffic Services and other agencies. This is also a token of appreciation and a symbol that they will forever be in our thoughts and hearts.
We owe our fallen heroes enormous gratitude for contribution they made in a challenging environment where officers must apply the Rule of Law to ensure a safer road network across the Western Cape.
It is unfortunate that too many road users are still losing their lives on our roads due to negligence and a complete disregard to fellow road users. Families lose loved ones such as parents who are breadwinners and children their parents due to these road accidents.
I am forever grateful to each and every courageous man and woman who went beyond their call of duty to ensure that our road users are safe while using the Western Cape road network. I salute you!
Media Queries:
Ntomboxolo Makoba-Somdaka
Spokesperson for Minister Daylin Mitchell
Cell: 082 953 0026