Fleeing robbers gun down cop

2003-10-15 21:52

Johannesburg - An off-duty metro police sergeant from Germiston who tried to pursue two armed hijackers being chased by the SA Police Service has been killed. He was 41 years old.

Sergeant Dave van Zyl died on Wednesday after a five hour long struggle by doctors to save his life. The two men who shot him had been arrested, said Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar.

Minnaar, who had himself worked with Van Zyl on a number of occasions, said the sergeant was killed in a brave attempt to apprehend the armed men even though he himself was unarmed.

The armed robbers, who had earlier tried to hijack a vehicle in Albemarle, Germiston, apparently jumped over the wall of Van Zyl's house in an attempt to evade the SAPS.

The SAPS were on their trail after being alerted by a reserve member of the force. The member had seen the two running past his house and had immediately given chase while calling for back-up.

Van Zyl was described by Minnaar as extremely enthusiastic and hard working. A distressed Minnaar could only speculate as to why doctors at the hospital were unable to save his colleague's life.

"I think the injury was too severe. The operation was five hours long so you can imagine what kind of damage there was. I had experience working with him, he was a sergeant.

"In the past he had apprehended criminals who were armed but this time he wasn't ready, he didn't have a firearm on him. I think it was just out of bravery that he tried to apprehend them, not realising they were armed," Minnaar said.

Van Zyl leaves behind his wife, a four-year-old son and an eight-year-old daughter.

- SAPA