MBOMBELA – A man who is believed to be responsible for the spate of break-ins at Shandon Estate fell to his death after he was shot last night during a struggle with estate staff on the property.
According to Mr Nico Grobler, operational manager of Hi-Tech Security Nelspruit, the manager of Shandon Estate, Mr Andy Haggart, as well as head of security, Mr Phillip de Bruin – were on a routine patrol at the estate when they came across the suspect just before midnight as he was entering the property through the fence.
“In a scuffle on the ground between the suspect and the men, the man pulled out a screwdriver and stabbed both Haggart and De Bruin,” Grobler said. A shot went off and the suspect was wounded in the chest. Grobler was not able to say from whose firearm the shot had been fired.
The suspect, whose identity has not been disclosed, tried to flee the scene and fell from a 10 metre cliff outside the property. Upon the discovery of his body, it seemed as if he had hit his head on a rock.
According to Mr Jacques Ainslie, manager of Hi-Tech Medical Services, it was clear that the man had suffered severe trauma to the head. “I suspect that this might have resulted in his death, rather than the gunshot wound,” he commented. The suspect was declared dead on the scene. His body was only retrieved four and a half hours later.
The Off-road Rescue Unit (Orru) as well as Mbombela Fire and Rescue were summoned for help. Shandon Estate’s attorney, Mr Coert Jordaan, was not available for comment.
Lowvelder previously reported on the significant increase in criminal activity at this particular estate as from November last year.
It was speculated at that stage that the suspect at the time could have been a former soldier and was an expert of the bush who used the rugged terrain to his advantage.
According to Capt Dawie Pretorius, local police spokesman, an inquest docket has been opened. “The case is being investigated,” Pretorius concluded.
