Dedicated police officer laid to rest

The late W/O Kedibone Mabatha (56) of the Makhado SAPS was laid to rest at the Mashamba Tshivhuyuni cemetery on Friday, 9 July, following his death on 5 July. He died at the Soutpansberg Private Hospital after a short illness.

Mabatha was depicted by his colleagues as a God-fearing, hardworking, dedicated, loving and respected police officer. Lt Col Mavhungu Madavhu, SAPS Vhembe’s acting cluster commissioner, said the department was deeply saddened by the untimely death of Mabatha. “The department will sorely miss his contribution to service delivery in our province. We really lost a hardworking person who was always dedicated to his job,” she said.

“He had been attached to the second-hand goods section at the Makhado police station and had never allowed or taken bribes as he knew and understood the requirements of being a good civil servant,” said Madavhu.

Mabatha joined the SAPS in 1987. In 1994, he was deployed as an instructor of the former Venda Police at Sibasa, and in 1995 he was deployed to Pretoria (Hammanskraal) as basic training instructor. He was later transferred to Tshitale, Waterval SAPS, and Makhado Cluster, where he was the cluster social-crime-prevention coordinator, and finally to Makhado SAPS’s loss management department, where he worked until his death.

During his long career in the SAPS, he was advanced to the rank of Lance Sergeant in 1994, Sergeant in 1995 and finally Warrant Officer in 1999. Over and above all, he was awarded with the SAPS Faithful Service medal in 1997, the Commemoration Medal for the period of 1995-2005 in 2007, the SAPS 20 Years Loyal Service medal, the 2010 World Cup Support medal, the 1913-2013 Centenary medal, and in 2017 he was awarded the 30 Years Loyal Service medal.

Madavhu has conveyed her sincere condolences on behalf of the SAPS to the family and friends of their fallen colleague.

Mabatha’s daughter, Ms Pfarelo Mabatha, said that her father’s death had left them with aching hearts. “Kedibone was a unifier and leader in the family whose wisdom we relied upon to lead us. His death leaves a void that will be hard to fill.”

Date:16 July 2021

By: Kaizer Nengovhela

Kaizer Nengovhela started writing stories for Limpopo Mirror in 2000. Prior to that he had a five year stint at Phala-Phala FM as sports presenter. In 2005 Kaizer received an award from the province's premier as Best Sports Presenter. The same year he was also nominated as Best Sports Reporter by the Makhado Municipality. Kaizer was awarded the Mathatha Tsedu award in 2014.

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