Dad shot in front of family
2010-01-19 08:33
Pretoria - Three armed robbers held firearms to the heads of ten-year-old twins from Midrand, before shooting their father in front of them.
Kobus Snyman, 42, was shot in the heart. His older daughter, Lenika, 16, and his wife Leenette, 38, also watched him being shot.
The robbers also held up Snyman's mother-in-law, Shirley, 57, sister-in-law Debbie van der Vyver, 34, and a friend, Eureke Kriel.
The women and children were chatting on Friday at about 22:30 on the stoep of the Allan way house when the robbers struck.
Snyman was in the sitting room where he had fallen asleep in front of the TV.
"Three men in blue jackets came walking towards me. I at first thought it was the police, but then one put his finger to his lips to show we must be quiet," said Van der Vyver on Monday.
"They must have jumped over the fence because the gates were locked. They held their firearms to the twins' heads. We all started screaming."
That's when Lenika threw herself almost over the twins and held them in her arms to try to protect them.
"I looked at them [the robbers] straight in the eyes and said: 'No!' Then I screamed: 'Dad!'" she said.
Snyman woke up. But before he could open the door [a glass door] - his hand was on the door handle - one of the robbers shot him, said Van der Vyver.
In spite of the wound, Snyman started running to the bedroom, presumably to fetch his pistol, but collapsed dead on the stairs.
The robbers took a laptop and cellphones "before they calmly walked away", said Van der Vyver.
According to her, Kobus sang "like an angel" and was a member of the Centurion chamber choir.
According to Shirley, Snyman's mother-in-law, she saw the expression on the face of the man who shot her son-in-law "and I could tell it wasn't his first murder".
"I want the minister of police to come to me and tell me what he's going to do. Will the government take care of the children?" she wanted to know.
Snyman's wife is severely traumatised and at this stage, according to her mother, shows no emotion at all.
"It's like Leenette is trapped in a bad dream."
Kevin MacInnest, 44, a friend of the family who was first at the scene, said it's terrifying that South Africans still live in fear after 15 years of democracy. "None of us are bulletproof. Kobus wasn't a threat to them.
"He was a big, soft 110kg teddy bear. He started every day with a 'Shanana' smile [a broad smile]," said MacInnest.
On Monday the family thanked the Anderson group, a company where Snyman had recently started working, as well as friends and family from as far afield as Australia for their support and prayers.
Snyman is also survived by a son, Tyron Snyman, 14.
Mmakgomo Semono, police spokesperson, confirmed that the police are investigating a charge of murder and armed robbery.