'Our beloved Piet signed off on his final case today': Byleveld family mourn his death

24 May 2017 - 19:32 By Shenaaz Jamal
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Piet Byleveld's family have described him as more as just a top cop but as "the best" family man.

According to the family's spokesperson Zelda la Grange‚ he succumbed to cancer at around noon on Wednesday‚ at the Life Wilgeheuwel clinic in Roodepoort‚ Johannesburg.

"It is with sadness and a great sense of loss that our beloved Piet signed off on his final case today...

"Piet was surrounded by his closest family at the time of passing‚" she said in a statement on behalf of the family.

"He will be dearly missed. Right now‚ life without him is unimaginable and his space will be empty."

  • Top crime-buster Piet Byleveld's family told there's nothing more doctors can do for himDoctors monitoring critically ill ace detective Piet Byleveld are said to have told his family that there is nothing more they can do for him.

"To South Africa and the world Piet was the top cop. To us he was more; he was the best husband‚ father‚ brother‚ grandfather and friend.

"We thank the public for their well wishes and being with us in spirit throughout this journey. Please know that your love and admiration gave Piet strength right to the end."

Byleveld close friend Flip Weirdabrug said he was a humble and dedicated man.

Weirdabrug‚ a detective‚ said he was very loyal to the SAPS and worked long hours.

“He was very good with serial killers and a number of landmark cases. He was humble even when doing investigations‚” said Weirdabrug.

  • Byleveld sued over Mauritius 'verdict'Piet Byleveld, one of South Africa's foremost criminal investigators, faces a R60 0000 defamation lawsuit.

Byleveld's death was a great loss to the profession‚ although he had been on pension and was no longer working on any cases.

“Other SAPS members can learn from him. he put a lot of time into his work and he was a very good investigator and court witness‚” said Weirdabrug.

The family said funeral arrangements would be announced soon.

- TMG Digital/TimesLive

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