'Devastated' mom left all alone

2007-03-27 07:50

Buks Viljoen

Johannesburg - A 57-year-old man died of a heart attack, only 24 hours after hearing that his remaining son had died in a car accident.

His other son died a few months ago in another car accident.

Five months ago, the Le Roux family had four members.

Now Rita le Roux, 53, is all alone.

Le Roux's husband Gideon died early on Monday morning from a heart attack, presumably brought on by the shock of hearing that their eldest son Deon, 26, had died.

Shock 'too much'

Deon, his fiancée and two friends were involved in a car accident near Klerksdorp. He died on the scene after the car overturned and he was flung from the vehicle.

It was exactly five months after the family's youngest member, Danie, 22, a field guide at a private game reserve in Phalaborwa, died after his car overturned on 25 October.

Family friend Ann Dold said on Monday night that Mrs le Roux was devastated.

"I don't know how one person can lose so much and remain strong."

Deon, an IT specialist from Midrand, his fiancée Sarita Strydom, 23, and two friends attended a wedding in Klerksdorp on Saturday.

The accident happened on the way back when the car apparently swerved to avoid hitting an oncoming vehicle. Another passenger died later in hospital.

The names of the other passengers in the car have not yet been released.

Deon and Strydom would have married in September. Dold said that Mrs le Roux, the president of the bowls association in Malelane, had only last week been the one to support her (Dold) after her mother had died.

"She told me every step forwards was terrible, but all that a person could do was to accept it. And then this happened to her."

After hearing the news of the Klerksdorp accident, the le Roux couple drove to the town. On Monday morning, Gideon started getting severe chest pains and his wife sped off to hospital with him. He was declared dead on arrival.

"I suspect Deon's death was too much for him," said Dold.

- Beeld