The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (POPCRU) is hysterical over the cowardly killings of two police officers who were shot dead on Saturday night in Winchester Hills, Johannesburg.

The two officers, a captain and a warrant officer, were responding to reports of a hijacking around 8pm when they came under fire while on their way to the complaint.

We condemn in the sturdiest possible terms this and many other attacks. Our men and women in blue daily risk their lives to protect our communities, and yet not a week goes by without their funerals.

Since the beginning of the year 2019, over 30 police officers have been killed, while many others lie in hospitals with serious injuries.

We find it disheartening that the officers had to lose their lives while in the service to ensuring our communities are kept safe, and would like to encourage our communities to work closely with police in rooting out all these rogue elements that continue to intimidate our safety.

We urge communities to work together with law-enforcement agencies to ensure that perpetrators of these heinous crimes are arrested and face the full might of the law.

We further urge our men and women in blue to work in larger groups, and to act decisively whenever confronted by characters.

POPCRU extends its deepest condolences to their families, friends and colleagues. Issued by POPCRU on 24/11/2019