Outpouring of fond memories for fallen Roodepoort officer

The memorial service for the late Roodepoort Police officer, Sergeant David Dasheka, was held on Thursday, 7 March.

Dasheka, affectionately known as Dash by his colleagues, was killed in a car accident on 2 March, while he was off duty.

His untimely passing came as shock to his family and colleagues who shared the fondest memories of this fallen Roodepoort servant during the memorial service at Jozua Naudé Primary School in Horizon.

Read the initial article here:

https://roodepoortrecord.co.za/2019/03/05/grief-as-roodepoort-officer-dies/

Several colleagues, including the acting station commander, Colonel Happy Xaba, shared a few words about Dasheka, whom he knew for a very short period of time. He referred to Dasheka as a book that he did not have an opportunity to read.

“I feel disadvantaged because I did not have the opportunity of reading the book called David Dasheka. I feel jealous when people quote chapters from this book which I did not have the personal experience of reading. And I feel pity for those who had the opportunity to learn from the book, but did not take anything out of it. In a book you don’t only find good things, otherwise it would be a boring book.”

“I only met Dasheka twice since my arrival at the station, and we only spoke once. If I had had an opportunity to talk to him more, I would have done so,” he explained.

Xaba thanked the family for allowing Dasheka to be part of the police. “We need to thank the family for allowing him to be part of this big family because not every family rejoices when their child or loved one joins the police – he was in the police force for 16 years and 171 days – that is a very long time serving the community with dedication,” he said as he saluted Dasheka.

Dasheka was like furniture at Roodepoort Police Station as he kicked off his career there in 2002 and climbed the ranks without serving at any other police stations.

During his years of service, he managed to complete all the courses and also obtained four awards, including the SAPS Soccer World Cup 2010 support medal, the SAPS Ten Year Loyalty and the Centenary medals.

The Chaplain, Andries Monyane, who shared the Word of God at the memorial, challenged Dasheka’s colleagues to follow in his footsteps and honour the legacy he left behind.

Spokesperson for the station, Captain Juanita York, said his departure left big shoes to fill. “His death leaves a big hole in the Roodepoort community,” she said, adding, “You know what they say when you lose an officer – it leaves a huge hole, but we’ll just have to pull up our socks and try and keep up with Dash, an officer who did a lot of good work in the community.

He was always smiling and he will be remembered by a lot of people in the community.”She indicated that Dasheka would be laid to rest in his home town of Mathibestad in the North West province on Saturday, 9 March, in a service beginning at 7am.