21/12/2025
Free State Unveils Wall of Remembrance for Fallen Police Officers
In a solemn tribute to officers who made the ultimate sacrifice, the South African Police Service (SAPS) in the Free State Province has established a dedicated Wall of Remembrance. The memorial honors the memory of police officers who lost their lives in the line of duty between year 2020 and 2024.
The unveiling on Sunday 21 December 2025 Under the theme "Gone but not forgotten"follows the recent National Police Commemoration Day, where national leaders highlighted the severe dangers faced by law enforcement.
Provincial police commissioner Lt Baile Motswenyane in her address stated that the wall serves as a permanent, physical place for colleagues, families, and the community to remember the fallen. It transforms individual officers from a statistic into remembered heroes.
The memorial's unveiling underscores the perilous nature of police work in South Africa. In the 2023/2024 financial year alone, 39 police officers were killed on duty.
Dignitaries including Deputy Minister of Police Cassel Mathale,Free State Premier Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae, and the relevant MEC joined families of the fallen officers, who had gathered from all corners of the province, for the ceremony.
The Free State's Wall of Remembrance stands as a lasting testament to local heroes, ensuring their courage and dedication to the safety of all South Africans will never be forgotten.
