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Brigadier Melikaya Ngodi (left), 56, and Colonel Makhaya Marwanqa (right), 58, both died of Covid-19 this week.
- Two police commanders at the Eastern Cape Police headquarters in King William’s Town died the same day from Covid-19.
- Brigadier Melikaya Ngodi, 56, and Colonel Makhaya Marhwanqa, 58, both passed away on Sunday.
- The two had 35 years of service each in SAPS, having joined in 1985.
Two police commanders at the Eastern Cape Police Headquarters in King William’s Town died on the same day from Covid-19.
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The two, Brigadier Melikaya Ngodi, 56, and Colonel Makhaya Marhwanqa, 58, are known to have recently met in a police operation.
Ngodi was the provincial head of the Operational Command Center, while Marhwanqa was the commander of the center’s War Room component.
Both succumbed to Covid-19 on Sunday, Eastern Cape police spokesman Brigadier Thembinkosi Kinana said.
The two had 35 years of service each, having joined SAPS in 1985.
Surprised Provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Liziwe Ntshinga has suspended all non-critical meetings and operations.
In a letter seen by News24 addressed to all employees, Ntshinga said that all SAPS personnel should be restricted to their workplace “to the extent possible. Movement of personnel between and within buildings should be limited.” .
In May, the offices were temporarily closed for deep cleaning and decontamination after Ntshinga and several officers tested positive for Covid-19.
“Visits to the provincial central office, district commissioner’s offices and accounting stations should be limited only to those matters that cannot be finalized through e-mail correspondence, scanned documents, phone engagements or virtual meetings.”
Brigadier Melikaya Ngodi (left), 56, and Colonel Makhaya Marwanqa (right), 58, both died of Covid-19 this week.
The wives of Ngodi and Marhwanqa are police captains and report to the same provincial central office.
Their wives could not be reached for comment. People close to the families revealed that the officers were too distraught to speak to the media.
Police officers at risk on duty
A police officer, not authorized to speak to the media, said that because police officers were on the front lines of the fight against Covid-19, their lives were at risk.
“Without the police to enforce law and order, a lot can go wrong. These two gentlemen died in the line of duty. We salute you.”
A senior source within the central office said cross-infection was rife within SAPS when officers attended police meetings and operations, including roadblocks while on duty.
“For example, Brigadier Ngodi attended many meetings and operations in his capacity as commander of all the elite units, such as the Tactical Response Team, the Flying Squad, the Public Order Police, etc.”
Another official said: “Brigadier General Ngodi was a loving family man who loved his wife, Captain Ngodi very much. They came to work together every morning, but sometimes Captain Ngodi would leave work just because her husband attended the evening meetings because he was dedicated to his work. “
Marhwanqa was a commanding officer in the War Room of the Operational Command Center, a unit under Ngodi.
Buffalo City Access Point
On Monday, Buffalo City Metro Mayor Xola Pakati announced East London, Mdantsane, Bhisho and King William’s Town, as a Covid-19 hotspot, according to DispatchLive. A total disregard for preventative measures, which included wearing masks during social gatherings, was identified as the driving force behind the steady increase in Covid-19 cases in the subway.
In his letter, Ntshinga ordered his troops to refrain from attending social gatherings even in their spare time.
“All staff must be re-sensitized to refrain from attending after-hours social and other gatherings, including attending funerals for those who are not close relatives.”
DispatchLive reported that BCM hospitals were so full that critically ill patients from Mthatha could not be transferred and instead had to be transferred to the KwaZulu-Natal facility.
“On behalf of the entire SAPS family, I would like to personally pay tribute to the two members who risked their lives to ensure that the people of South Africa are protected against crime and against this virus. I would also like to convey my sincere condolences to the families of our fallen colleagues and thank them for the decades members have served in SAPS, as well as allowing them to serve during these difficult times, “said Ntshinga.
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