Dad bitter over son's death

2008-08-20 23:43

Amanda Roestoff

Johannesburg - Inconsolable and bitter over his son's death because it could have been prevented.

That's how his brother has described Gerhardt Pretorius, whose 16-year-old son Jacques died at the hands of the so-called sword killer.

Jacques's aorta was severed when a matric pupil at Nic Diederichs Technical High School in Krugersdorp slashed him with a Samurai sword.

Jacques's uncle Buks spoke to Beeld on Wednesday on behalf of the family and said he felt incapable of consoling his brother.

He did not wish to talk about Jacques's mother, or give her name.

"How do you console your brother and tell him it'll get better after something like this happens to his child?"

Jacques's best friend, JC Welman, had phoned Gerhardt with the shattering news.

Gerhardt then phoned Buks at about 08:00 on Monday morning with the words: "Buks, Jacques is dead."

Buks rushed to his brother's side at the school. Jacques's body was still lying there as police investigated the crime scene.

Jacques was Gerhardt's eldest son. He has an 11-year-old brother. Buks did not want to give his name.

- Beeld