Johannesburg – In a tragic display of dedication beyond duty, off-duty SA Police Service Captain Wynand Du Toit made the ultimate sacrifice while responding to a business robbery in Springs, Ekurhuleni.
Captain Du Toit answered the community’s call for help, leading to a fatal confrontation with armed suspects.
The death of the brave officer has sparked calls for justice and a renewed focus on police officer safety in South Africa.
Captain Du Toit was fatally shot after he responded to a business robbery in progress in Springs, on Sunday, (16 February 2025), at about 07:30.
Attached to Springs Police Station, Captain Du Toit was off-duty when the community alerted him about the robbery at a store.
He immediately put himself on duty and responded to the robbery.
A shootout ensued between Captain Du Toit and about four suspects. The police officer was shot.
Captain Du Toit was rushed to a medical care centre, where he, unfortunately, succumbed to his injuries.
Community members – some of them crime survivors – and policing unions are calling for justice for Captain Du Toit.
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He was described as a committed, brave, and exceptional crime fighter by those who knew him.
Today, Monday, (17 February 2025), Gauteng Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni activated a tracking team to hunt down the suspects following the ruthless murder of Du Toit.
Police said the tracking team was already following leads to trace and arrest the murderous armed robbers.
“The brave and dedicated captain died while responding to the call of duty, even though he was off-duty at the time,” said Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni.
“We will make sure that those who are responsible for his death are hunted down to face the full might of the law.
“I would like to extend my condolences to the family of our fallen hero.”
Lieutenant General Mthombeni also directed Employee Health and Wellness to afford the officer’s family and colleagues the necessary counselling and support during this period.
Reacting to the killing, the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (POPCRU) expressed concern about the senseless killings of police officers.
“We are concerned about continuing killings of police officers, whether they are on or off duty because this has led to situations where officers are not sure as to whether they’ll be returning home every morning they leave for work,” said POPCRU spokesperson Richard Mamabolo.
“We have since urged the Minister of Police to look into legislative amendments that will deem the killing of officers as treasonous.”
Lieutenant General (Dr/Adv) Godfrey Lebeya (SOEG chief of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation – better known as the Hawks -recently warned that an attack on police officials was an assault on society, and indeed an attack on the State.
Concerned South Africans took to social media to express their shock at the death of Du Toit.
“I know that guy, he was involved in the arrest of one of our son’s murderers in Etwata. This country is bad. Nobody must tell me apartheid was worse. It was not.” Petrus Theron posted on X.
Another user going with the handle, Notsoignorant posted on X: “Captain Du Toit was a very well respected police captain who went beyond the call of his duty to be an exceptional crime fighter, detective and a pillar in our community. This is a real blow to the people of Springs. We are shocked and dismayed at his untimely death”.
