Police, family and officials gather at Westpol Square
Dozens of men and women in SAPS uniform, family members and provincial officials gathered at the Police Commemoration Memorial Site at Westpol Square in Potchefstroom on 14 September to remember Constable Gift Mota, who died in February while pursuing a suspect. The ceremony, led by the North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Virginia Tlhapi, and the North West Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Arthur Adams, recognised the sacrifice of a 25‑year‑old officer attached to the Visible Policing Crime Prevention Unit at Phokeng Police Station.
Tlhapi described Mota’s death as a profound loss for his family, colleagues and the province. According to the MEC’s address, Mota entered a dam while chasing a suspect allegedly linked to robbery and burglary incidents in the Masosobane and Raffredy sections. His body was later recovered by the SAPS diving unit.
"The police officers are constantly exposed to victimisation and the dangers of living among the very criminals they pursue daily. As such, it is our collective responsibility to protect our police officers,"
The MEC used the commemoration to call for stronger measures to ensure the safety and protection of law enforcement personnel. She said government must strengthen legislation that protects officers and extended condolences to Mota’s family, stressing that no pension or tribute can replace a lost son.
Details from the commemoration and the incident
The event drew personnel across ranks, including colleagues who served alongside Mota, and members of his family. Organisers laid emphasis on honouring the fallen and on the risks SAPS members face in the course of duty. The memorial underscored both the human cost of policing and the operational dangers involved in pursuing alleged offenders.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Constable Gift Mota |
| Age | 25 |
| Unit | Visible Policing Crime Prevention Unit, Phokeng Police Station |
| Incident | Entered a dam pursuing a suspect; body recovered by SAPS diving unit |
| Commemoration | Police Commemoration Memorial Site, Westpol Square, Potchefstroom (14 September) |
Local consequences and community appeal
The memorial served both as a tribute and a reminder to communities in the region of the dangers officers face. The MEC’s comments placed the responsibility for officer safety partly on lawmakers, urging legal strengthening, and partly on communities to cooperate with SAPS operations. The ceremony also aimed to show solidarity with Mota’s family and to acknowledge the gap his death leaves in both his household and his unit.
- Attendance included provincial leadership, the North West Police Commissioner and SAPS members across ranks.
- The MEC called for legislative measures to improve protection for law enforcement officers.
- The SAPS diving unit carried out the recovery of Mota’s body during the February incident.
For residents of Potchefstroom and surrounding areas, the commemoration is a local moment to reflect on safety, policing resources and community‑police cooperation. The loss of a young constable while performing duty has renewed public discussion about operational risks, the protection of South African law enforcement personnel and expectations from government to act on those concerns.
The memorial concluded with formal condolences to Mota’s family and a pledge from provincial leadership that his sacrifice will be remembered. No further operational details about the February pursuit were provided at the ceremony.
