Delving into the past
The police came charging in and fired a couple of shots before leaving.
This week we look back at the Advertiser’s April 1, 1994 edition.
• Guard killed with own gun
A Brakpan security guard was shot and killed with his weapon after two men attacked him at a shop on Monday night.
Hendrik Jakobus van Vuuren, 63, of Plot 64, Witpoot, was apparently guardind at the Sallies Café in Vulcania.
Police say he was attacked by two unknown men at about 6.15pm.
A scuffle ensued between van Vuuren and the suspects, during which his service pistol was taken from him.
The men fired a shot at van Vuuren with the weapon, shooting him in the chest.
They fled the scene with the pistol.
Van Vuuren later died on the scene of the crime.
Also read: Delving into the past
• Hostel stripped bit by bit
A hostel in Duduza is being stripped.
But the sense of urgency in the looting is lacking; it’s more of a game.
Residents, many of them from the nearby squatter camps, swarm into the hostel complex and bash at the window and door frames with hefty hammers and an assortment of tools.
The police came charging in and fired a couple of shots before leaving.
Less than five minutes later, the crowds return.
First one then two, then everyone who was there before the police arrived.
Seven minutes went by before the police came back to the hostel where they once again fled after firing a few shots.
At times, a police constable runs up and says, “The ISU is coming!
“The ISU is coming, run!”
After which the stripping starts again.
Duduza station commander WO JJ Fourie said: “It is all under control, but you get these youngsters and you find yourself guarding one side and then they come in the other side.”
During one of the rushed exits, a woman calls out, “It’s IFP, it’s IFP”, holding out her arm.
She is pointing to the far side of the hostel where two men, one in uniform and one in civilian dress, are entering with shotguns.
A shot rings out and the last remaining people in the hostel flee.
A few youths don’t run further than the hostel wall and gather up rocks, which are thrown over the building toward the men.
“We don’t want this thing here.
“That’s all you tell them.
“We don’t want this thing here,” someone shouted who was seen walking up and down the street in front of the hostel.
Just behind the far end of a hostel, a billboard walker was pasting down a message reading: ‘Peace Builds, Violence Destroys’.
Also read: Delving into the past
• Professional pipped locals around Brakpan
Professional bike rider Andrew Mclean won the Mercury Cycles National Classic around the Jan Smuts Dam, Brakpan, on Saturday.
He was followed by Christopher Mountjoy and Nelius Jordaan.
Willie Engelbrecht finished in fifth place.
The main event of the 1994 |Mercury Classic took place over a distance of 66km.
Other results are as follows:
•The Isotar Veteran’s Roled- Model Maker award went to Les Massey, Bill Macnock and M Connor
• Hyde Helmut Fun Ride – Mike Orselli, Mitch Blignau, of the Madison Cycling Club in Brakpan
• Falke U/13 Challenge – Rayneke Coombs, Renier du Plessis and Clinton Bauche
• Bolle U/15 Champion – C Corbette, R Cox and Gregory Jurriens
• Michelin’s U/16 Kermesse – Timothy Barnard, Owen Hanie and Riaan Rossouw
• Anatomic Women’s Challenge – Jackie Martin, Fiona Hitchcock and Jean Limatlaw.
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