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Eastern Cape Department of Transport 21 Sep 2022
OFFICER DOWN - Officer Sonica Esmeralda Smith
03/12/1979 - 21/09/2022 (42) Appointed 01 June 2007 as a Provincial Inspector Struandale (14 years of service)
Officer Sonica Esmeralda Smith was shot and killed while on duty on the R75 near Kwadwesi earlier today. It is alleged that at about 10:42, Officer Sonica and 2 of her colleagues, a male and a female were conducting vehicle checks. While the male official was standing on the road, one female was busy writing out a summons and the deceased female was seated on the driver’s seat busy with documentation when four males walked towards the traffic official (male) that was standing on the road.
They pointed him with a firearm and disarmed him. It is further alleged that when the traffic official who was seated in the vehicle attempted to react after seeing what had happened, she was shot in her chest while still seated in the vehicle. Her firearm was also taken. The suspects ran off on foot.
She is survived by 3 children (aged between 21, 10 and 7).
SARAH BAARTMAN DISTRICT MANAGER, Bukiwe Ncipa-Wali…“Ms Sonica Smith was one of the dedicated, committed and hardworking traffic officers. She had a bubbly personality and was always willing to assist fellow Colleagues. As one of the senior officers she was regarded as a Mentor by some of her colleagues. She was an organised person and a good administrator as well.”
