Father killed in front of son, family suspects cable thieves

Robbers shot and killed a Vanderbijlpark father in front of his 18-year-old son at the family's home.

Beeld reported  that when Bertus Coetzee, 42, arrived home at 10pm on Monday night, his son Flippie opened the garage door for him so he could park his bakkie inside.

According to Warrant Officer Kinnie Steyn of the Vanderbijlpark police, two armed men threatened Coetzee and held him at gunpoint when he got out of the car.

They took his car keys, shot him in the chest, and fled the scene in a Volkswagen Polo, taking only the keys and Coetzee's work bag, Steyn said.

An ambulance was called, but Coetzee died at the scene.

"The rest of the family is okay, but it's a terrible shock, and so unnecessary," said Belinda Muller, Coetzee's sister.

"He was really a good man, a minister in the Old Apostolic Church."

The Mullers said they suspected that Coetzee's death might have had something to do with information he had about cable theft in the area.