GARDEN ROUTE | KAROO NEWS - Slain police constable Donay Phillips (32), who grew up and attended school in George, was laid to rest in Pacaltsdorp yesterday.
Phillips tragically died on Sunday 8 May following a shooting at the New Somerset Hospital in Cape Town the previous day.
Phillips, who was stationed at Sea Point Police Station, was shot dead while guarding a 35-year-old suspect at the hospital.
According to information he heard an exchange in another part of the hospital and went to investigate.
A fight ensued, after which a former policeman, Jean Paul Malgas (40), who was involved in the altercation, grabbed Phillips' service firearm and shot him, as well as the two other patients.
Family members, friends, colleagues together with the Deputy Minister of Police, Mr CC Mathale, Deputy National Commissioner for Crime Detection, Lt General Ntshinga, Divisional Commissioner, Lt Gen MM Mothlala and SAPS provincial management attended the funeral service at the St Albans Church in Pacaltsdorp.
Sgt Chris Spies, chairman of the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) in the Southern Cape said, they received the sad news of the untimely passing of one of their youngest members who joined the organisation during March 2016 while undergoing basic police training at Bishop Lavis.
Spies said it is a sad day for the union. “We will remember his unwavering loyalty to the union and his contribution to the struggle for the emancipation of the working class. Phillips served the country with dedication, commitment and integrity.”
Read more on sister publication, George Herald
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