Komphela, Mokonyane pay tribute to FS VIP Protector

Gauteng premier and Free State MEC for police, roads and transport describe the late Teboho Motsie as a selfless and dedicated police officer

The Free State MEC for police, roads and transport, Butana Komphela, and Gauteng premier, Nomvula Mokonyane, were visibly emotional and had to constantly hold back tears when they paid condolences to the bereaved family of Sergeant Teboho Motsie at Marakong in QwaQwa.

Motsie perished along with another VIP protector as well as the Gauteng economic development MEC, Nkosiphendule Kolisile, in a car accident in Reddesburg, 60km outside Bloemfontein on their way to a funeral in the Eastern Cape last week.

Komphela made it clear that the accident could not be attributed to over-speeding or unroadworthiness of the vehicle the party were travelling in.

“We went to the crime scene with some journalists from Bloemfontein and found the road to be in good condition. We also established that the driver was not driving at too high a speed. We are not sure what could have caused this accident.

However, investigations will be conducted to get to the bottom of the accident. He said the accident had not only robbed the family, but also the government.

“Motsie chose to sacrifice his life to serve this country; few people can do that. He had chosen to be the protector of the MEC, a huge responsibility that was worth his life because he had to shield the MEC from any harm coming his way.”

Mokonyane lamented that her government had lost a great leader and two outstanding police officers.

“The death of the MEC and two protectors has left us with a deep void that is going to take time to heal. We came here to support the Motsie family, because we know what they are going through at this difficult time.”

She described Kolisile as a selfless leader who died at a time when the country needed leaders of his calibre.

The brother of the deceased, Tsietsi Motsie, said the family was still in shock and was finding it difficult to come to terms with their loss.

“My mother had hoped that Motsie would be the one who would bury her, but now it is the other way. As Christians we know we have to accept instead of questioning God.”

Tsietsi said when his brother, the fifth child in a family of eight, left home in April, they had hoped to see him again. He described him as a pillar of strength in the family and a jolly person who would always crack jokes to defuse potentially tense situations.

The late Motsie is survived by his wife and an 11-year-old son.

He will be buried on Sunday. Kolisile will be laid to rest at a funeral service at his place of birth, the Majola Village in Port St John’s in the Eastern Cape. He is survived by his 37-year-old wife, Phozisa, and five children.