Fallen officer Const Ashwin Pedro (26) was remembered at a packed memorial service held at the Grassy Park Civic Centre on Wednesday 7 December.
Family, friends, residents, police officers and guests arrived in their numbers to honour Pedro who was killed while on duty in Parkwood on Thursday 1 December.
Remembering Pedro’s final moments after he was shot and left for dead, Grassy Park Police Station commander Col Dawood Laing, read from a letter written by a member of the public who sat at the fallen officer’s side in his final moments.
“Today is a very hard day for the Grassy Park community. We were fortunate enough to share Ashwin for six years and some of us reach the age of 60 and 70 but some of our lives are not as full as a 26-year-olds would be,” said Laing.
“On Thursday 1 December, I received a call informing me that Ashwin was shot.
“I arrived at the scene and saw Ashwinlying there.
“There were still five ladies with him, praying for him and asking God to protect him.
“Yesterday, I received flowers and a letter and it comes from a lady who was holding Ashwin’s hand praying for him just before he passed away,” he continued.
The letter, addressed to Pedro and his family recounts those final moments before the officer succumbed.
“Const Ashwin Pedro, family and Grassy Park Police Station.
“I still can’t believe what happened on that fateful day.
“I was the first person right there, sitting next to you and shouting at you not to give up. I knew you heard me because every time I asked you things your eyes would flutter open and you would take a deep breath.
“You would breathe again. I had hoped so much that our efforts were not in vain because you fought so hard. I told you to hang in there for help, that help would be there shortly.
“I told you that your family is waiting for you at home, your siblings need you.
“It’s been five days since I slept, seeing someone fight so hard to stay alive but unfortunately you paid the biggest price. You died protecting and serving the community. I had my son with me and it was his birthday, so the day you passed away will never be forgotten.”
Meanwhile, Western Cape police commissioner Lt Gen Thembisile Patekile tried to comfort the family with the knowledge that their son died fighting against gangsterism to protect the community.
“To the family, God has a plan. God was there. Your son died fighting those gangsters.
“Gangs have no power over us, no power over any person. We do not want to bury any other member.”
Western Cape minister of police oversight and community safety Reagen Allen said it was unacceptable that gangsters were continuing to ravage communities.
“Gangsterism doesn’t make sense, it is cowards that are ripping our communities apart but we need communities to stand together.
“Any time that a ruthless person is directly attacking the state, they must face the full might of the law and bail should never be granted to send a clear message that it will not be condoned.”
He added that six officers had been lost in the last quarter.
“We need assistance, information to share with Community Policing Forum (CPF) and neighbourhood watches with police and law enforcement so that we can see more arrests being made.
“Our deepest sympathy on behalf of the government, we feel your pain. Constable Pedro’s legacy will continue and we are saying no more.”
