A BRAVE HEART SILENCED
CPF hero gunned down in Kroondal
Kroondal/ Rustenburg – He ate his last meal with hope in his heart. On the evening of Thursday, 27 March 2025, 28-year-old Sydney Rikhotso Mboweni — chairperson of the Community Police Sub-Forum (CPF) for Sector 5 in Kroondal — was assassinated near his home in the Ikemeleng informal settlement. He had just finished supper and climbed into his Toyota bakkie to head to the police station to report a crime — his last act of service.
Moments later, shots rang out. Sydney’s vehicle collided with a neighbour’s fence, and when his girlfriend rushed outside after hearing gunfire, she found him slumped over the steering wheel — killed by a gunshot to the head. It is a moment that has left his family, friends, fellow CPF members and the entire Kroondal community shaken.
“Sydney was very dedicated,” said Marcus Haasbroek, chairman of the CPF executive committee. “He helped fight crime with all his heart. He took illegal firearms off the streets, helped shut down drug houses, and responded to cases of rape, theft and house breakings. He was a fantastic guy.”
Tall, kind, and respected by all, Sydney was more than just a CPF member — he was a peacekeeper, a protector, and a friend.
“Everyone looked up to him,” shared CPF treasurer Harry Swart. “Even me. He was just incredibly likeable. He genuinely wanted to make a difference. That was Sydney.” Deputy chairperson of the CPF, Tshepiso Matlhare, echoed their sentiments: “Whenever there was a problem, Sydney would go. He loved what he was doing. He helped get so many criminals off the street. He didn’t wait to be asked — he just showed up.”
Sydney’s courage wasn’t backed by a salary, a uniform, or benefits. Like so many CPF members, he gave his time, his fuel, his energy — and ultimately, his life — for a safer community.
The acting provincial commissioner of North West, major general Patrick Asaneng, condemned the killing in the strongest terms. “CPFs are vital in our fight against crime. They are legally established structures made up of brave volunteers like Sydney.”
Sydney’s tragic death is more than a headline. It’s a reminder that behind every safe street, every successful arrest, there are unsung heroes who risk everything — not because they have to, but because they care.
Sydney Rikhotso Mboweni will be honoured at a memorial service on Thursday, 3 April 2025, at 15:00 at Kroondal Primary School. His funeral will take place on Saturday, 5 April 2025, in Giyane (Mheshe Village), Limpopo.
He was just 28. But in those short years, he stood taller than most ever will.
