Speaker 1:

[foreign].

 

Sergeant Fuku:

I thought that that's it. I thought I'm going to die. I thought I'm going to die.

 

Speaker 2:

So, [inaudible].

 

Sergeant Fuku:

So, but this ... I saw that at least I could stand on my feet for four minutes, then maybe if I can be rushed to hospital, I'll make it.

 

Speaker 4:

Sergeant Gabriel [Fuku] was on patrol with his dog unit in Sorento when he saw a car with a suspicious licence plate. As he called radio control for initial details, the car stopped, and the driver got out. Fuku called for backup and then got out to talk to the driver, asking him if he could check the car.

 

Sergeant Fuku:

Just as we were about to reach the boot, he jumped out of wheel in front of me, and the left passenger door opened, and just automatic fire, gunfire, and I was first hit in my mouth, twice, and when I tried to draw my gun, [inaudible] he fought me on my left hand and left leg. I went into an open air. There were not gates there. The guy followed me, still shooting, and then I turned on the [inaudible] and looked at him. He stood, take an aim, and he shot me. This last shot was on my right shoulder.

 

Speaker 4:

Fuku was lucky. 60 police have already been killed in the first three months of this year. In South Africa, police are three times more likely to die than members of the population. Gauteng Province has the highest number of police fatalities with St. Johannesburg, Sorento and the East [inaudible] bearing the greatest losses. We spent time with the police how are on the front line of the crime battle, the Flying Squad.

 

Speaker 5:

[foreign].

 

Speaker 4:

The night shift prepares for duty. They don't take any chances. The procedures are standard and strict. We leave the Flying Squad unit in the company of Sergeant [Dutoy] Constable Abrams.

 

Speaker 6:

When I came to the Flying Squad, due to the stress, I don't know, eventually I started smoking and I used to like smoking, and I started drinking. While I'm sitting here, I'm thinking of my wife and my baby boy, two years old.

 

Speaker 7:

It's dangerous to be a police officer for the rest of my life. If that it's ... if that is okay with you, but for now, I would say being a police officer is one of the best things in my life. It's one of the best things in my life, and ...

 

Speaker 6:

You feel powerful. You feel alive. You feel you want to beat it with people. You want to help people. You feel like responding to everything, even though it's a fighting. Just to be a success and be productive, to do something for the country and the fellow people.

 

Speaker 4:

Before we have a chance to settle, a call comes in on the radio. We race back to the unit.

 

Speaker 6:

Just understand now, we've got a bulletin that there's shot at the gate [Gord]. I don't know whether we got injured or not, but we going there to give help.

 

Speaker 8:

[inaudible] the first shot, jump up and [inaudible]. Three more shots after each other, dah, dah, dah, dah. And off. I couldn't see what type of gun it is. And he's gone. In there, [inaudible] cause or just playing around same. You know? Playing with your firearm or whatever.

 

Speaker 4:

All they find is shotgun shell. There's not much to be done, so we go back into the streets of Bengali.

 

Speaker 9:

It's you and death, and then there's just a thin line between you two, and you just have to make a big decision.

 

Speaker 6:

Most of the policemen from our side or from my point of view is just live for today or tomorrow. You don't know what's going to happen next time. You might lose your life. You might be shot dead. You can just live for the moment and for tomorrow.

 

Speaker 1:

[inaudible].

 

Speaker 4:

We arrive first at the crime scene. A man has been shot by unknown assailants, and he lies in the street fatally wounded.

 

Speaker 6:

I'm sorry. There's really not much we can do for him. Just continue to stop the bleeding and keep the man stable. Okay? We called to medical assistance already. They're on their way. According to common investigation, assassin might still be among the cars standing here because nine out of ten times, the assassin usually do it to the scene of crime. There's not really much we can do about it. Can't go about and search everybody. The person's not going to make it or he passed away already.

 

Speaker 1:

[inaudible].

 

Speaker 4:

Most of the complaints on this night are fights related to alcohol abuse, and these are the results. This is the second corpse we've seen in the last hour. We respond to an armed kidnapping and arrive seconds after police reservists arrest the alleged perpetrators.

 

Speaker 10:

As we came around the block, we found the whole group of these guys with the firearms walking up towards us. We got the complainer to prove that these guys are guilty. These are the guys that threatening with firearms, and apparently they kidnapped his brother, and his brother is still missing.

 

Speaker 1:

[inaudible].

 

Speaker 4:

After re-entering the car, the next radio call comes in. A policeman has been shot pursuing suspected robbers.

 

Speaker 11:

So, Daniel, can you tell me what happened? Yeah. We were coming down [inaudible]. So, the man was shooting, and so we jump out and we hide here. And then the men were just around the corner.

 

Speaker 12:

The guy came. We just came round the corner, and as we hit the corner, we shone the torch in his face. Just started shooting.

 

Speaker 13:

You know? Those bloody idiots getting more worse and worse.

 

Speaker 12:

Yeah.

 

Speaker 4:

Police accept that theirs is a high risk occupation, but constant exposure to death is traumatic, particularly if it's your partner.

 

Speaker 14:

I just hear the shot, the sound of the gun. Then I was a ... wearing my glasses. Then I just pull off my glasses, and I went down in the car. Then the second shot went off, and I ... That shot just passed me behind my head, just [inaudible] me, and it went through. Then it caught my friend in the ... It affected me a lot because ... I dreamt of him many time. And it was hard, and he felt [inaudible].

 

 

You see? From that day, I didn't want to do this job anymore. It became difficult for me to come back to work, but ... at the end of the day, I made my mind that I am going back. Then I see what is happened.

 

Speaker 4:

In fact, many policemen who survive attacks return to their jobs. Sergeant Moses [Moluleke] left his office one day to buy some lunch, and was shot by two unknown men while getting into his police vehicle.

 

Sergeant Moses:

One of them grabbed me both arms. Then other one grabbed me both legs. So, I couldn't turn, and then while I trying to turn around and look who was there, it was too late. Then they shot me on the left shoulder. At that time I collapsed, fell on the ground and tried to cry for help. Nobody came up by that. Then they took my service firearm. Then they ran away. Now I cannot walk. That's the thing that changed. But will come to mind, nothing is present, also my mind. I'm still living every day I have.

 

Speaker 4:

Police are targeted by criminals and attacked for a variety of reasons. In the East [inaudible], there was 73 attacks on police so far this year.

 

Speaker 16:

You'll find that a policeman is being killed or robbed his firearm during peak hours where the entire community is witnessing the matter or the robbery, but nobody will come out or be prepared to submit a statement. Last year, we have lost 12 members. This year, up to date, we have lost four members who were brutally maimed and killed.

 

Speaker 4:

In the end, the danger, the low pay, the stress and the long hours take their toll.

 

Speaker 6:

I don't think I'll be a policeman for too long because it's definitely emptying you. It's taking everything out of you, and it leading to a dead end eventually.

 

Speaker 17:

Well, you're human. Always afraid. But you must ... It's part of the job. Just do it. Can't show it. Nothing.

 

Speaker 4:

Are you going to go back to your job once you're better?

 

Sergeant Fuku:

Yes. Yes. I will. I will. I'm going back to my job. I miss my job now. I think I'll die being a policeman.

 

 

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