The suspect accused of killing Const Ashwin Pedro on Thursday 1 December was out on bail for alleged rape at the time of the shooting.
Pedro, 26, was shot and killed in Parkwood after an altercation with the suspect.
According to Col Dawood Laing, station commander at Grassy Park Police Station, the perpetrator was arrested for rape earlier this year.
“The perpetrator was in prison for a rape case and had other cases that were withdrawn. We will see where we failed and rectify that dockets to also be placed on the court roll. The suspect will be charged with murder, robbery with a firearm and possession of a firearm and ammunition,” says Laing.
Laing says Pedro was well-loved by his colleagues and fellow officers at Grassy Park Police Station.
“A lot of officers who were off duty rushed to the scene. They wanted to come and say their goodbyes at the crime scene.
“From the community last night, there was a number of neighbourhood watches. The Community Policing Forum (CPF) was there in full so this shows what this member meant to the community even at his young age.”
Laing adds that the police and CPF started a campaign earlier this year to stop attacks on emergency workers.
“In March this year, we had a project in the whole Grassy Park area when my officers came under attack in Parkwood as well as in Ottery.
“We started the project in Parkwood to ask the community not to attack the officers; they are there for their protection. We are humans, just as they are but, unfortunately, we are the only pillar between anarchy and peace and we want to create a peaceful environment.”
He says Pedro could have become a high-ranking officer in the police. “But, unfortunately, God decided otherwise.”
On Friday 2 December, Western Cape provincial commissioner, Lt Gen Thembisile Patekile, paid his respects to the family in Lavender Hill.
“It was our member who was doing his job to protect the community when he was attacked and killed by that person.
“We came here today to visit the family and share their grief because their loss is our loss and the loss of the country and community.
“What was very tough is that his father said he had never had to arrange a funeral before, it will be the first time and that is because of a person who has no regard for the law or human life.”
He added that the suspect had since been arrested and would face the full might of the law.
“We are going to do our utmost, we are opposing bail, to ensure he never sees the sun and the court will make that decision.
“But we are going to make sure that we will say to the courts not to let this person out, he must not get bail. He must sit there for what he did,” said Patekile.
Meanwhile, Stanford Grass, from Steven Road neighbourhood watch in Grassy Park, says the death of one officer is one too many.
“It is just sad that this is happening to one of our members. We also patrol and between 02:00 and 04:00, it is the most dangerous. Our kids are at home and they never know if we are going to come back home.
“It was really eye-opening to me as a new member of the neighbourhood watch to see that we need to be more cautious, especially now that it is the festive season.”
He adds that a week earlier, they buried another fallen officer.
“Just last week we buried an officer of Grassy Park and this week again another one which is not right. One is too many.
“Our prayers are with each and every police officer and law enforcement. We go out at night and we need to pray and we need to keep our eyes open and we need to also watch each other’s backs, that is so important.”
