Deputy President Paul Mashatile to Lead SAPS Commemoration Day Honouring Fallen Officers
Viable News Team 
Pretoria – Deputy President Paul Mashatile will on Sunday, 7 September 2025, join the families of police officers and reservists who lost their lives in the line of duty at the annual South African Police Service (SAPS) Commemoration Day.
The solemn ceremony will take place at the SAPS Memorial Site at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, where the names of officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice are engraved as a permanent tribute.
According to the Presidency, this year’s event will honour 27 members of the SAPS who died while serving between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025.
Every year, on the first Sunday of September, South Africa remembers its fallen officers. In 2024, the nation paid tribute to 39 members who lost their lives in the line of duty during the preceding year.
Deputy President Mashatile has previously described attacks on police as an assault on the state, urging stronger action against those responsible. He also emphasised that police officers have both the right and duty to defend themselves and the public when confronted by armed criminals.
The commemoration not only serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made by law enforcement but also highlights the urgent need to address internal challenges within the SAPS, including low morale, corruption, and inadequate infrastructure.
As Mashatile stated during last year’s ceremony, empowering the police force to meet its constitutional obligations requires both accountability and stronger community collaboration.
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