News24 | Man, 77, stabbed to death while visiting son’s grave in Stellenbosch

Police in Stellenbosch are investigating the tragic murder of a 77-year-old man, who was fatally stabbed while visiting his son’s grave on Saturday afternoon.

• A 77-year-old man, Piet de Koker, was stabbed to death on Saturday while visiting his son’s grave at a cemetery on Distillery Road, Stellenbosch.
• Police are investigating the murder, with no arrests made yet, and the motive remains unclear.
• Stellenbosch Local Municipality has pledged full cooperation with the investigation and emphasised efforts to enhance safety in the area.

Police in Stellenbosch are investigating the murder of a 77-year-old man, who was fatally stabbed while visiting his son’s grave on Saturday.

Police spokesperson Constable Ndakhe Gwala said officers attended the scene on Distillery Road at around 15:45 and found the man with an open stab wound on the right side of his chest.

“He was declared dead by medical personnel on the scene. The motive for the murder is a subject of police investigation; no arrest has been made yet,” she said.

According to Netwerk24, the man, identified as Piet de Koker, had been visiting his son Werner’s grave when he was killed.

The publication reports that De Koker had been tending to his son Werner’s grave for decades following a drowning accident 45 years ago.

De Koker’s daughter and her family, who were expecting to host him for a braai on Saturday, grew worried when her father did not make it in time for a rugby match, according to the report.

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Gwala said no arrests have been made.

Stellenbosch Local Municipality spokesperson Stuart Grobbelaar said crime was, unfortunately, a reality across the country and affected South Africans daily.

He said there was ongoing cooperation among the municipality, CapeNature, residents, and stakeholders, including Visit Stellenbosch, to ensure residents’ safety.

“Municipal law enforcement patrols the affected area on an ongoing basis, as well as other parts of the municipal area that regularly receive attention and visible patrols,” he said.

Grobbelaar said the municipality was fully cooperating with police investigations.

“As always, any support and information at our disposal will be made available to assist in advancing the case,” he said.