Vandals ‘desecrate’ slain Port Alfred businessman’s memorial

PORT Alfred surfers are up in arms after a bench they cemented onto the popular East Beach pier in memory of murdered businessman Noel Maddocks was removed by vandals.

The bench, made of upcycled wood that Maddocks used to make furniture with, was pulled from its mountings just hours after 20 friends and family members had a braai and a few beers on the pier on Saturday afternoon while they fastened it down.

Local surfer Mickey Whitthuhn yesterday slammed the vandalism saying whoever moved the bench had “desecrated” Maddocks’s memory.

“I am upset and disappointed. This was like a tombstone to Noel at a spot where he loved to surf.

“It is mind-boggling that someone would have no respect for the dead.”

The bench, inscribed with Maddocks’s name, date of birth and death and the logo of his fledgling surf label, Saltwater Renegade, also has the words: “always in our thoughts, forever in our hearts” inscribed on it.

The popular IT expert, who ran his own computer business in the resort town, was allegedly murdered by Tonny Donile almost six months ago, shortly after he started dating the local tavern owner’s German ex-girlfriend.

Maddocks’s older brother Justin said two weeks after the murder he started making two benches with some upcycled timber Maddocks used to make furniture with.

“It took me four months to build, working on and off. It is really disappointing. There was such a good vibe when we installed it,” said Justin.

He said fortunately the bench had not been damaged by the vandals.

The bench will be reinstalled at the popular surf spot in two weeks time during the local Kowie Boardriders club competition. Maddocks was a longtime member of the club. On Saturday afternoon surfers and friends descended on the East Pier with a wheelbarrow, shovel, cement, a gas braai, cooler boxes of beers and meat and their surfboards to install the bench, ride the waves and have a braai in his memory.

Justin said they decided to put the bench at the same spot they had scattered his brother’s ashes.

“He loved East Beach, it was his favourite spot. We had a party on the pier while we fitted the bench, Noel would have loved it.”

Maddocks was stabbed 44 times when Donile allegedly broke into the home he used to share with ex-girlfriend Pia Roser while the surfer was staying over.

Donile said during his bail application that he had acted in self-defence despite Maddocks being stabbed 16 times in the back. Bail was denied.

Donile is due back in court in April. —