Police dog comforts cop's son
2006-06-29 22:39
Lucia Swart and Borrie la Grange
Johannesburg - Three-year-old Braedon Schoeman just couldn't help himself - seeing the friendly police dog that looked exactly like his father's - he had to go and say hello, smiling as the dog licked his face - while the hearts of bystanders were breaking.
Braedon attended the memorial service for his father, Sergeant Gert Schoeman, 30, and three other policemen who died in a hail of bullets in a gunfight with robbers in Jeppestown, Johannesburg on Sunday.
A guard of honour comprising six police officers and dogs, four photographs of smiling men in the prime of their lives and four empty police caps awaited the 2 000 people attending the service in the Christian Life centre in Honeydew on the West Rand.
Hundreds of police officials, crying family members and community leaders attended the memorial service for Schoeman, inspector Victor Mathye, 49, inspector Frikkie van Heerden, 32 and constable Francois Seaward, 31.
Immediately hugged the dog
Six police officials of the West Rand's dog unit formed the guard of honour at the entrance of the centre because Mathye and Van Heerden were members of their unit.
Crying family members walked past the dogs.
Young Braedon immediately hugged some of the dogs and stroked them.
"No mommy, I don't want to," the bewildered boy said when his mother, Brenda Schoeman, wanted to enter the church.
For just a moment his happy face was like a beacon in a sea of misery.
"We also have one like this at home. It reminds him of his father", his mother said later, who is four months' pregnant with their second child.
She took her place in the front of the church behind the Van Heerden and Seaward families, who cried uncontrollably even before the start of the service.
Police members helped Ndaheni Mathye, the dead policeman's sister, to a chair while she cried uncontrollably.
Paramedics later gave her oxygen and supported her when she collapsed while several people paid homage to Mathye and the three other policemen.
The commander of the West Rand flying squad, an emotional superintendent Stefan Vermaak said: "The death of Gert (Schoeman) has become a symbol of hope for our unit. He paid the biggest price with his bravery as a policeman. A small boy will now grow up without his father."
Superintendent Mario Caroto, the commander of the West Rand dog unit, told the congregation how courageous and loved Mathye and Van Heerden were.
"They taught us what the words fearless and heroes really meant. It's a pity we had to learn the meaning of these words in such a manner."
Police shocked
Deputy commander Oswald Reddy, Johannesburg's police chief, described Seaward as a "hard-working and proud" policeman.
While Reddy was talking, Seaward's wife Nadia, whom he married just four months ago, started crying loudly.
Reddy said: "When the last bullets were fired and the shooting ended, we walked into the house.
"We (the police's top management) were shocked, because it looked like a battlefield. The four police officials fought for their lives.
Mathye's nephew, Norman Mathonsi, said: "We don't have tears left. I think we've cried enough.
I'm trying to be strong for the rest of the family. They're really suffering.
"I never knew how popular my uncle was. I hope we can celebrate his life and his memory."
Mathye's two children, Neo and Terrance, have been left orphaned: "But we'll look after them well.
"Wherever my uncle is, I hope he can hear me saying we'll look after them properly."