Designer's dad killed for cell

2008-01-20 22:55

Nurene Jassiem

Cape Town - A man's early-morning walk with his dog ended tragically in Parklands on Sunday when robbers stole his cellphone and stabbed him with a knife. He died of the wound.

Police say Eric Govaars, 54, father of well-known designer Kim Govaars, 30, of the X&O brand, was walking with his dog in Gie Road in Parklands about 07:00 when he was attacked.

Superintendent André Traut said on Sunday: "Govaars was robbed of his cellphone and stabbed in the chest.

"He managed to get into his vehicle and drive to the Intercare medical centre in Link Road, where a security officer spotted him."

Traut said Govaars could not be treated at the centre and the security officer phoned the police.

"The police took Govaars to the Netcare Blaauwberg Hospital, where he died of his wound," he added.

Always helped others

Kim, his son, was still distressed on Sunday afternoon and would not say much.

"If you can't even take your dog for a walk in an upmarket suburb like Table View, then I don't know what's happening to our world," he said.

"The fact that they murdered my father for his cellphone makes me angry. I just can't understand it.

"He was in the clothing industry all his life and was always giving people things.

"He always brought people home so that they could do something to earn a bit of money and he never turned away a vagrant," he said.

- Die Burger