Man shot dead in 'Lekker Lag' home
2010-09-08 23:03
Sonja van Buul and Johan Brits, Beeld
Deneysville - A businessman was shot dead by a robber in his house in a security complex next to the Vaal River on Wednesday morning.
At about 04:00 Naas Grobler, 56, went to investigate why his dog was barking so incessantly, said his stepson, Mel Shandos, 44, from Kempton Park.
Grobler's wife Rika, 62, grabbed her cellphone and locked herself in the bathroom of their house, named Lekker Lag, when she heard the shots.
The robbers calmly stole a cellphone and jewellery from the house after the shooting.
The same robbers had apparently broken in and robbed two other houses in the Club 40 complex, about 10km from Deneysville and the Vaal Dam just before they shot Mr Grobler.
One of the houses belongs to Grobler's son Louis, 30, who is also a partner in their steel business. His house is three doors down from that of his parents.
"Luckily the other residents and I were not at home when we were robbed," Grobler jnr said on Wednesday. Grobler snr was presumably attacked at the sliding door on the stoep.
"My stepdad was shot in cold blood," said Shandos.
Three shots were fired, of which at least one hit Grobler snr. His sons describe him as "a kind man who had no enemies".
"When my mom heard the robbers flee, she phoned the security guard at the complex's gate and started screaming," said Shandos.
She was treated for shock on Wednesday and was too traumatised to speak to Beeld.
Police officials from Sasolburg and Deneysville, including the K9 unit (formerly known as the dog unit), trackers and a police helicopter started looking for the robbers.
"We're quite impressed with the police's response time and actions," said Shandos.
While the surrounding farms and gravel roads were being searched, Shandos told of how they had all been relaxing together next to the river one day.
"My step father said we always have a good laugh here, so he decided that should be the name of the house."