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The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (POPCRU) received the sad news of the untimely passing of one of our greatest and fearless leaders, Comrade Pakiso Reginald Mokalapa, who met his untimely death in the early hours of yesterday morning (17 October 2020) while travelling with Cde Tumelo Makae, a former YCLSA National Committee member, and Cde Taole Tokelo.

Unfortunately, both Cdes Mokalapa and Makae lost their lives, while Cde Tokelo is under medical supervision. We convey our message of sincere condolences to the Mokalapa and Makae families and comrades, while we wish Cde Taole Tokelo a speedy recovery.

Comrade Mokalapa, fondly known as Parks, dedicated his life to the struggles and the building of a non-racial, non-sexist, united, democratic and prosperous South Africa. In Comrade Parks, we have lost one of the most dedicated comrades towards the attainment of justice for all within the criminal justice cluster.

Comrade Parks was appointed in the South African Police Service (SAPS) as an Admin Clerk in Virginia Melodies in 2004, and served as an Institutional shop steward in the same year.

He was then transferred to the Parkroad SAPS in October 2008 where he continued serving as a shop steward, and later released as a full-time shop steward (FTSS).

After his release as an FTSS, he worked as a case manager in POPCRU and continued to grow in representing members, even to a point of representing them in arbitrations where he did well to secure employment of most of those affected.

He further served as the Mangaung Local Chairperson, and was ultimately elected as the Acting Provincial Chairperson in late 2013.

In 2015, he was duly elected as the POPCRU Free State Provincial Chairperson.

He served in various chambers in the province, such as the Safety and Security Sectoral Bargaining Council (SSSBC), and was very instrumental within various labour forums in sectors where POPCRU is organising.

Cde Parks played a pivotal role in the Free State province during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic, wherein he and others ensured the proper implementation of workplace rules in relation to the safety of our members. These goals he continued to champion until his untimely death, serving as a full-time shop steward.

POPCRU dips its flag in honour, memory and as a tribute to this outstanding son of the soil, and pledges to continue the fight for the unity of the workers, and justice for all. 

Issued by POPCRU