A Mitchells Plain Metro police officer has died on the same day as his wife’s funeral.
Constable Wilhelm Beukes, 44, of Area South and his wife Sonja Beukes, 42, both died of Covid just one week apart.
The couple, who leave behind their two sons aged 16 and 18, were battling the deadly virus together, but sadly, both lost the war.
Sonja died on 8 August and Constable Beukes on 14 August, a day after his birthday.
The couple passed away at Melomed Mitchells Plain Hospital after each spending three weeks in hospital.
Sonja was admitted on 1 August and Wilhelm on 2 August.
Constable Beukes’ father Andries Beukes, 66, tells the Daily Voice their family has suffered a great loss.
“I’m going to miss his early drive-by’s in the morning when he comes from work or when he is going to work.
“I will miss our Saturday morning chat over coffee before he helps Sonja in her garden, but most of all, I’m going to miss the love and support that my son has shown me and our family over the past years.”
The Metro cop had a special funeral yesterday, led by the City of Cape Town’s Metro Police and Traffic Services in a procession from his Mirage Street home in Rocklands to the Old Apostolic Church in Caravelle Road where the service was held.
Metro Police members formed a guard of honour along Mirage Street and also outside the church. Constable Beukes will be cremated in a private ceremony.
Metro Police spokesperson Ruth Solomons says Beukes had been with the department for 20 years.
“The team is heartbroken, as they will miss his humour and the respect he had for all and how he was always there to guide and to show the new members the right way of dealing with the different scenarios.”