Widow grateful for arrest of husband’s killer

"There is no way to describe what I was feeling"

November 3, 2015

Riana Joubert 1 minute read

POLOKWANE – “There is no way to describe what I was feeling. I am just grateful that the police kept their promise and did not stop looking for the man that killed my husband.”

These are the words of Simonè Oosthuizen, the wife of Ignat, who was killed in his home in Serala View six months ago.

Alex Simon Chauke (22) allegedly broke into the Oosthuizen’s home on 5 May and Oosthuizen died trying to protect his wife, Simoné and another woman who was staying there at the time.

Chauke was linked to the murder when the police found his bloody fingerprints at the scene of the murder and they went on a massive manhunt to apprehend him.

“I received the news from the Sector 2 community policing forum (CPF) that the man was behind bars and I had mixed emotions,” said Simonè.

According to Polokwane police spokesperson, Capt Ntobeng Phala, this breakthrough was made by the Polokwane Crime Prevention Unit and the Tekkie Squad.

“The man was positively linked to the murder scene and further investigation linked him to four other robberies at businesses and houses in the city,” Phala added.

He added that the police did not rule out the possibility that he could be linked to other cases and more charges might be added.

While on his way to court on Monday, Chauke escaped from the vehicle he was travelling in, but he was rearrested on the Westenburg bridge a little while later, a police official confirmed.

“He was swiftly rearrested and will still appear before court.”