An elderly security guard was bludgeoned to death after catching skelms breaking into a school in Heideveld.
The hartseer family of Alfred Schlosz, 59, say they have been left traumatised after the diligent community worker was found by residents lying in a pool of his own blood.
The popular man, known as Uncle Alfie, was employed as a security guard at Woodlands Primary School and kept watch for skelms at night.
Police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk says the thieves overpowered Uncle Alfie, beat him and stole various items including kettles, pots, a dishwasher and a microwave.
His niece Mishka Ernstzen, 42, says the family was woken up by frantic screams on Sunday morning as residents rushed to tell them what happened.
“They came screaming after 8am and from what we know he was beaten and left there and they found him the next morning,” Mishka says.
“The ambulance came to the school and he was rushed to Groote Schuur Hospital.
“We honestly could not believe it. His whole head was bashed in and there was so much blood.
“The doctors tried to save him but said he was brain dead.”
She says they believe the skelms knew he would be able to identify them and that is the reason they killed him.
“They meant to kill him. They knew he knew who they were and so they butchered him to death.
“We are traumatised and hartseer because this was an innocent life they took.
“He was a gentle, loving man who wasn’t married and he didn’t have children but he worked so hard for the children of this community.
“He didn’t deserve to die like this.”
Van Wyk says determined detectives questioned the community and swiftly arrested a 45-year-old man for murder, as well as a 59-year-old man who was found in possession of the stolen goods.
Western Cape Education Department spokesperson Unathi Booi says the school kitchen was broken into and various items including food was stolen.
“This is a tragic incident and our thoughts are with the family in this very difficult period,” Booi says.
monique.duval@inl.co.za