'It could have been so much worse': brave cop who lost leg during shoot-out promoted

Hero senior police officer Lt-Col Joe Coetzer, who lost his leg in a shoot-out with armed suspects when the Hawks raided a luxury home in Makhado, Limpopo, to crack down on a cash in transit (CIT) gang last year, says he is grateful to be alive and proud to continue serving his country.

For his bravery, Coetzer was promoted to colonel on Friday at the Tactical Operations Management Operations (Toms) by Hawks head Lt-Gen SG Lebeya at the awards to honour and recognise members who excelled in their duties during the 2024/25 financial year. 

Speaking to TimesLIVE Premium, Coetzer said he still had a lot to be thankful for and praised God as it could have been much worse.

In 2023, Coetzer and the team followed intelligence-led information to take down a safe house, arrest suspects and seize firearms, explosives and stolen motor vehicles they planned to use during a planned CIT. 

When approaching the house, the police were met with high-calibre rifle fire and were forced to take cover. 

“We moved in, surrounded the area, identified ourselves for the sake of gaining access to the premises, and in the process, when we took a position around the house, they started to open fire from within the premises. I was in a neighbour's yard behind some pillars, taking guard against the fire, and in the first exchange of gunfire, I was struck by one of the suspects, which injured my hand,” he said. 

However, the wound on the hand did not stop Coetzer. He received medical treatment and insisted on returning to the field to assist his colleagues.

“That injury in itself was not life threatening and I decided to go back. I can still manage it, even if it's only from a position to manage the rest of the operational decisions and actions to be taken. We had total control of the premises. Eventually, the premises were breached and penetrated, and rooms were cleared as we moved close to the premises, and I was called to inspect the premises.”

“Unfortunately, one of the rooms, the garage, wasn't cleared by the teams, and one suspect was hiding beneath a vehicle. And as the penetration team entered he opened fire and about seven rounds from the AK-47 went through the garage doors,” he said.

He was struck in the leg by two bullets.

Coetzer said he received medical attention and was transferred to hospital, but unfortunately the doctors had to amputate his leg.

According to police the shooting lasted over an hour.

On making the decision to go back after the first injury, Coetzer said: “To make that decision at that moment is purely because you have a responsibility.”

“You have to look after your members. Somebody's got to take charge, somebody's got to communicate, somebody's got to command, and you need to see to it that things are co-ordinated.”

“You have to realise you're still fortunate. You're still thankful. You could have been killed,” he said.

Coetzer joined the South African Police Service in 1988 and started at the guard unit. He then joined the VIP protection. 

“In 1992 I did special task force selection and served in the special task force for 28 years, until I got promoted to lieutenant-colonel three years ago, and joined the Hawks, specifically the Toms unit, and I've just been promoted to colonel there,” he said.

Coetzer said the 28 years that he has served have covered a broad spectrum of adventures.

“You get to deal with parachuting, scuba diving, rock climbing, tracking, medical qualifications, sniping qualifications, a broad spectrum of very adventurous kinds of work, and that all of it together must be the highlight,” he said.

Despite his injury, Coetzer said he will continue to do his work.

“You need to find self motivation, because it's easy to find self pity. If we need to look for reasons not to do something, then answers come easily. But you need to motivate yourself. You need to be realistic, and one should always remember, never mind your troubles and shortfalls and shortcomings, there are always more people who have it worse.”

Coetzer is a golfer and he has joined the South African Disabled Golf Association. 

He said his Christmas will be spent with family.

“At this stage, it's all about family time. My daughter has returned from overseas. My son is with us. We are very blessed to have the whole family together. My wife is not 100% well, since she was diagnosed with cancer. So in between her treatment and the spare time, I only wish for a nice, quiet, safe and very appreciative family day,” Coetzer said.