Durban — This Women’s Month the South African Police Service celebrates the life of the late Sergeant Busisiwe Mjwara who, along with K9 Leah, died while searching for KwaZulu-Natal April flood victims.
SAPS celebrates its women in blue with a posthumous recognition of the life of the late Sergeant Busisiwe Mjwara.
National SAPS spokesperson Colonel Athlenda Mathe said that as the country observes Women’s Month, the SAPS joins the nation in celebrating the strength and resilience of women in policing who in their daily duties and strive toward making South Africa a much safer and better place to live in.
“Today, we pay tribute and homage to the late Sergeant Busisiwe Mjwara, a female police diver who was attached to the Pietermaritzburg Search and Rescue unit,” Mathe said.
Mjwara, 42, died in a search-and-rescue operation in the Msunduzi River in Pietermaritzburg.
She had been searching for a family of three who had drowned when she experienced difficulty and drowned.
Mjwara was part of more than 120 rescuers made up of police divers, K9 members, SAPS air wing personnel and fire department teams that had been deployed to form part of Operation ISSA to respond to the floods in the Greater eThekwini area in April 2022.
“From the SAPS, she was one of only four female members that had been deployed to assist in saving and recovering missing people,” Mathe said.
Mjwara was airlifted to a nearby hospital but was sadly declared dead on arrival.
She was born and bred in a small village called Caluza in Pietermaritzburg and joined the SAPS in 2008 and had 14 years of service.
Mjwara began serving at the Hilton and Mooi River Police Station Community Safety Centre and in 2014 joined the 10111 Call Centre as a call operator. She later joined the Flying Squad and Police Diving Unit.
Her unit commander Warrant Officer Frederick Brand described her as a dedicated, selfless and passionate member who was committed to the cause of serving.
“She was a people’s person and loved by all whose paths crossed with hers. Her work ethic was amazing, she had good morals, good ethics, she is one of those people that you cannot replace. Always willing to go the extra mile,” Brand said.
“To the late Sergeant Mjwara, the South African Police Service flag does not fly because the wind moves it, but because of the last breath of members like you who died protecting it. Thank you for your bravery, loyalty and the sacrifices you made to serve and protect the people of the Republic of South Africa,” Mathe added.
Mjwara was buried on April 22 after a funeral attended by many, especially from the police fraternity.
K9 Leah was laid to rest on May 11 after a private funeral.
Tributes poured in from all parts of South Africa from the police and emergency services.
Daily News