Raphael Wolf
THE grieving family of a pensioner – who was killed when a rock was hurled through his Toyota Hilux bakkie’s windscreen – say he was killed in a cowardly manner.
Karel Dilgee, a taxi owner and businessman from Mandalay, had been recovering from a stroke and was unable to drive.
Dilgee was being driven to Bonteheuwel by Moses Gazi at about 6.15pm when the concrete brick was hurled at them on Wednesday.
The accident happened on the N2 near Delft. Police spokesperson André Traut confirmed the incident and that the concrete brick had been hurled at Dilgee during protest action. Traut said an investigation was under way.
“They were approaching the bridge, which crosses the N2 freeway, when a piece of concrete came flying through the windscreen and hit Karel in the face. He immediately slumped over the driver’s seat,” said Dilgee’s sister, Joan Bezuidenhout.
Gazi drove Dilgee to the Kuils River Hospital, where doctors tried in vain to revive him, said Bezuidenhout.
“It could have been (the culprit’s) own family passing there, and they could have killed their own family member. Then how would they have felt (about it)?”
Bezuidenhout said their family, including Dilgee’s wife Audrey and her two children, had been informed about the incident by Gazi.
Bezuidenhout’s husband Christopher said the family had been worried over Dilgee’s health.
“We were concerned about the effect of the stroke on him; he was progressing well. Nobody expected him to die in such a cowardly manner.
“I am angry because I drive on that road every day,” said Christopher, adding that he drove past the scene twice without realising his brother-in-law was involved.