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Hestrie's hubby shot at
04/02/2005 09:27 - (SA)
Lieze du Preez, Beeld
Coligny - Andries Cloete, estranged husband of high-jump star Hestrie Cloete, narrowly escaped death on Thursday morning when he was shot at with a hunting rifle.
"I was nearly killed," Cloete said after being shot at by Koos Herbst, who was married to Hestrie's sister Petro. Petro died in a freak accident in Durban two years ago.
After the death of his wife, Herbst had a relationship with Ansie Kroukamp, at whose house the shooting took place.
A shocked Cloete said on Thursday that he had had coffee with Kroucamp, a friend and neighbour, and was on his way home shortly before 06:00 when he froze in his tracks in the backdoor.
"When I opened the door, I saw smoke. Then the bang followed and I realised there was trouble."
The bullet flew past his head and hit the wall near the doorframe.
Cloete said he then saw Herbst.
"Koos pointed the gun at me several times, but battled to cock the .303."
"I rushed to take the gun from him. It was a hell of a struggle, but once I had the gun, he calmed down."
Speaking from the micro-lending company where she works, Kroucamp said on Thursday she was inside the screen door when the shot went off.
Her two children were in their room, preparing for school.
She earlier lived with Herbst, but moved into a rental house opposite Cloete in St Andrew Street when she ended her relationship with Herbst shortly before Christmas.
Kroucamp said she obtained a restraining order against Herbst on Wednesday to keep him away from her home or place of work.
Herbst was scheduled to appear in court on Friday for the order against him to be ratified, but will now appear on a charge of attempted murder.
Herbst was arrested shortly after the shooting as he was running away from the house. He spent the night in a police holding cell.
Kroukamp denied that she and Cloete had a relationship.
"It is not true that Andries and I have a relationship. We are just very good friends. It is a mere coincidence that I ended my relationship with Koos at the same time the divorce between Andries and Hestrie came up."
Superintendent Louis Jacobs for police said Herbst was driving a borrowed car when he stopped between Coligny and Ventersdorp and walked to Kroucamp's house. He was standing at the garage, about 10m from the back door, when he allegedly fired the rifle.
The rifle was confiscated and sent away for ballistic testing. Herbst apparently inherited the firearm.
Cloete believed he might have broken a rib or two in the struggle. He had X-rays taken at Lichtenburg Hospital on Thursday.
Few Coligny residents were aware of the shooting. They were also not interested in the Cloete family's affairs. "It is becoming boring," said a cashier at a supermarket.
A businessman said the town's name was being dragged through the mud.
Send e-mail to liezedp@mweb.co.za
- Beeld
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