Anti-Gang Unit Constable Laid to Rest in Limpopo After Reiger Park Ambush
The pain of losing a young police officer in the line of duty has returned to his family home in Limpopo, where 29-year-old Constable Thapelo Kleinbooi Tlometsane is being laid to rest following the deadly ambush that claimed his life in Reiger Park, Ekurhuleni.
Tlometsane, a member of the Gauteng Provincial Anti-Gang Unit, was killed on Friday, 7 August 2026, alongside his colleague, Constable Siphiwe Sibeko, after the two officers responded to reports of gunfire while on patrol.
Instead of finding safety, they drove towards the danger.
The officers came under heavy attack in Reiger Park. Both were fatally shot. Two civilians were also killed during the incident.
On Sunday, Tlometsane’s family, colleagues, community members and senior police leadership gathered at his family home in Gedroogde village, Zebediela, outside Polokwane, for his official funeral.
Among those attending were Deputy Police Minister Dr Polly Boshielo and Acting National Commissioner Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane.
A Young Officer Remembered for His Quiet Dedication
For Tlometsane’s family, the funeral is not only about mourning a police officer killed in the line of duty. It is about saying goodbye to a young man who, according to those closest to him, never sought attention.
His brother, David, remembered him as a quiet and dedicated person who preferred to stay away from the spotlight.
Tlometsane’s commitment to his work, however, was never in doubt.
His death has left a deep void among his family and colleagues, while raising fresh questions about the dangers faced by police officers confronting organised and gang related crime.
Police Leadership Pays Tribute
Dimpane described Tlometsane’s death as a devastating loss for the South African Police Service and said the entire police family was mourning his passing.
In her tribute, she said the young officer had been taken by what she described as “a ruthless criminal” before he had the opportunity to fulfil his full potential.
The acting national commissioner also highlighted the courage displayed by Tlometsane and Sibeko.
The two officers did not retreat when they heard gunfire. They moved towards it as part of their duty.
That decision ultimately cost them their lives.
Suspect Appears in Court
A 23-year-old suspect, Regan Collis, has been arrested in connection with the deadly incident and has appeared in the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court.
Police investigations are continuing, with authorities indicating that further arrests are expected.
The investigation is likely to remain under intense scrutiny as police work to establish exactly how the ambush unfolded and identify everyone allegedly involved.
The deaths of two Anti-Gang Unit officers have also intensified attention on the risks faced by specialised police teams operating in areas affected by violent crime.
Sibeko Buried in Springs
Tlometsane’s funeral follows the burial of his colleague, Sibeko, who was laid to rest in Springs on Saturday.
A joint memorial service for the two officers was previously held in Westdene, Johannesburg, bringing together police colleagues, family members and supporters who gathered to honour their service.
Their deaths have sent shockwaves through the police service and highlighted the dangers confronting officers tasked with responding to violent crime.
‘Their Deaths Must Not Be in Vain’
SAPS leadership has repeatedly vowed that the deaths of Tlometsane and Sibeko will not be forgotten.
Authorities have promised to pursue those responsible and bring them before the courts.
For Tlometsane’s family, however, the investigation cannot erase the loss of a son, brother and colleague who died at just 29 years old.
As his loved ones gather in Zebediela to lay him to rest, the circumstances of his final moments remain at the centre of a criminal investigation.
What is already known is that Tlometsane and Sibeko were responding to gunfire when they were ambushed.
They went towards the danger.
They did so because it was their job.
And now, a young police officer who had spent his career confronting some of the country’s most dangerous criminals has been returned to his family home for the final time.
