Eighth W Cape cop killed
2002-08-05 08:33
Cape Town - Gangs in the Western Cape have claimed the life of yet another policeman - the eighth to die since December.
Off-duty Inspector Daniel van der Merwe was shot and killed in Eerste River, a few metres from a friend's home shortly after he had bought a lottery ticket on Saturday evening.
Van der Merwe's wife, Elizabeth, said her husband visited his life-long friend, Clive Cloete, in Sandpiper Street, Eerste River, on his way home from the shop.
Cloete's wife, Mary, said the men had been friends since they were at school together at the Hoërskool Kleinvlei, in Eerste River.
On Saturday night, the two friends went to visit a third friend, also a policeman, to play dominoes.
About 21:45, the three men returned to Cloete's home.
They were nearly home when a group of suspected gang members stopped them on a vacant plot next to Cloete's house.
Superintendent Riaan Pool of Eastern Metropolitan Council police said the circumstances were not clear, but there was a shootout.
Died in the lounge
Mrs Cloete and her children, Clyde (5) and Catesca (8), hid in the house while shots rang out.
Cloete, who was wounded during the shootout, stumbled home, crawled into the house and died in the lounge.
She said: "I heard shooting and people shouting, and when it quietened down, I ran to the neighbours for help."
Police later found the bodies of Van der Merwe and Elias Isaacs (24) on the vacant plot. Isaacs was allegedly a member of the Schoolboys gang.
Van der Merwe's service pistol was missing from the scene.
Pool said the name of the third policeman was being withheld for his safety's sake.
Mrs Van der Merwe said the man and her husband worked together at the Bellville South uniformed branch.
Massive manhunt
On Saturday night, members of the Goodwood, Kuils River, Bellville, Bishop Lavis and Ravensmead police stations, under the command of Eastern Metro deputy area commissioner Gerhardt Jantjies, launched a massive manhunt for the other suspects.
Shortly before 01:00 two more men, aged 26 and 34, were arrested.
Pool said Van der Merwe's service pistol had not yet been found. The police unit for crime against the state was investigating the killing.
Eastern area commissioner Arno Lamoer praised the task team for their quick reaction and warned criminals that attacks on policemen would not be tolerated.
Van der Merwe leaves his wife, his son, Jade (10), and daughter, Lee-Cresent (12).
Mrs Van der Merwe was still being treated for shock on Sunday. She was a housewife, she said, but her husband's death had robbed the family of their breadwinner.
"I will miss my husband very much. He spoiled me and took care of his family. Once the funeral is over and things have settled down, I will have to look for a job to support our children."
A North West policeman was also killed on Saturday, when two unknown assailants opened fire on him and his daughter. The policeman, whose name has not been released, was hit in the stomach. His attackers took his service pistol and tried to steal his car. They fled on foot when they failed to disable the immobiliser.
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